Ostinato
noun /ˌɒstɪˈnɑːtəʊ/ — A persistently repeated musical phrase or rhythm.
Definition
A continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm — an insistent, hypnotic repetition of a figure in the bass or upper voices that anchors a larger composition.
Beyond the definition
The ostinato is music that refuses to let go. Ravel's Bolero is almost entirely ostinato — the same theme building relentlessly, the repetition becoming hypnotic, then overwhelming. Some emotions are like that: they repeat underneath everything, giving the day its undercurrent.
Origin & history
From Italian ostinato (obstinate, persistent), from Latin obstinatus. Named for its stubborn refusal to change — the ground that continues while other voices move above it.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The bass ostinato continued for sixteen bars while the melody evolved above it.
Bolero is the most famous example of ostinato — the same melody repeated eighteen times.
Anxiety has an ostinato quality — the same phrase on repeat, underneath everything.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Ostinato” when the meaning fits your context: A continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm — an insistent, hypnotic repetition of a figure in the bass or upper voices that anchors a larger composition.
Synonyms
ground bass, repeated phrase, riff
Antonyms
variation, development, improvisation
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Tablet with Repeated Shapes
An archaeologist studies a clay tablet featuring a series of repeated, abstract geometric shapes under candlelight.
The repeated shapes on the tablet illustrate the concept of an ostinato—a hypnotic, insistent repetition of a figure that anchors a larger composition. The patterns serve as a rhythmic, visual base that maintains a steady, underlying structure for the rest of the archeological mystery.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Ostinato" mean?
Ostinato is noun meaning: A persistently repeated musical phrase or rhythm.. A continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm — an insistent, hypnotic repetition of a figure in the bass or upper voices that anchors a larger composition.
Where does the word "Ostinato" come from?
From Italian ostinato (obstinate, persistent), from Latin obstinatus. Named for its stubborn refusal to change — the ground that continues while other voices move above it.