Rubato
noun /ruːˈbɑːtəʊ/ — Expressive freedom with tempo — borrowed time in music.
Definition
A mode of musical expression in which the performer takes expressive freedom with the strictly notated rhythm — speeding up and slowing down according to the emotional demands of the music, rather than keeping strict time.
Beyond the definition
Rubato is the musician's permission to breathe — to linger on a note because it needs more time, to rush a passage because the emotion is urgent. The best rubato sounds inevitable, as if the music itself demanded the departure from strict time. Chopin's music is almost unintelligible without it.
Origin & history
Italian: rubato (robbed), from rubare (to steal, rob). The implication is time robbed from one beat and given to another — borrowed time that must be repaid across the phrase.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The pianist played the nocturne with exquisite rubato — the tempo flexing like breath.
She sang with rubato that felt entirely natural — you only noticed it was happening when she had stopped.
He conducted business with a kind of rubato — knowing when to accelerate and when to hold back.
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 “Rubato” when the meaning fits your context: A mode of musical expression in which the performer takes expressive freedom with the strictly notated rhythm — speeding up and slowing down according to the emotional demands of the music, rather than keeping strict time.
Synonyms
expressive tempo, time flexibility, free rhythm
Antonyms
strict time, metronomic, rigid tempo
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
Thinking After a Meal
An adult sits at a table after a meal, lost in thought while staring at the candle flame in the dim light.
The slow, unhurried posture of the person reflects rubato—the taking of expressive freedom with time. Just as a performer slows down for emotional effect, the individual lingers after the meal, prioritizing their internal emotional state over the strict demands of the clock.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Rubato" mean?
Rubato is noun meaning: Expressive freedom with tempo — borrowed time in music.. A mode of musical expression in which the performer takes expressive freedom with the strictly notated rhythm — speeding up and slowing down according to the emotional demands of the music, rather than keeping strict time.
Where does the word "Rubato" come from?
Italian: rubato (robbed), from rubare (to steal, rob). The implication is time robbed from one beat and given to another — borrowed time that must be repaid across the phrase.