rhythmic

[ rith-mik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to rhythm; showing a pattern of repeated sound or movement:

   I could tell by his slow, rhythmic breathing that he had fallen asleep.

2. Music. relating to or emphasizing a regular pattern of strong and weak beats:

   A strong, rhythmic violin accompaniment adds to the energy of the powerful solo voice.

3. characterized by measured or flowing movement, as in dancing:

   Her long-form figure skating routine showcased a graceful, rhythmic body motion, like the rolling waves of the sea.

4. relating to a person’s ability to recognize and produce a beat or pattern of measured movement, as in music or dance:

   He has a strong rhythmic sense, as shown by his complicated drum work on this album.

5. Art, Literature. using or showing the patterned repetition of a motif or formal element in the same or a modified form:

   Ancient storytelling used memory aids such as rhythmic parallel structures and closely related key words.

6. Prosody. relating to or making effective use of poetic meter:

   The quirky and humorous poems in this collection are a mixture of free and rhythmic lines.

7. Theater, Movies. having a measured or patterned effect of movement, tension, and emotion, as created by an alternation between dialogue and description, shorter and longer scenes or sentences, etc.:

   With a masterful knack for rhythmic scene pacing, she explores a series of topics in this trio of short films about growing up.

noun

1. rhythmics ( def ).

rhythmic

/ ˈrɪðmɪk; ˈrɪðmɪkəl; rɪðˈmɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by rhythm, as in movement or sound; metrical, periodic, or regularly recurring

Derived Forms

• rhythmicity, noun
• ˈrhythmically, adverb

Other Words From

• rhyth·mi·cal·ly adverb
• hy·per·rhyth·mic adjective
• non·rhyth·mic adjective
• sem·i·rhyth·mic adjective
• un·rhyth·mic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhythmic¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Late Latin rhythmicus, from Greek rhythmikós; rhythm ( def ), -ic ( def )

Example Sentences

The score also plays on the concept of time and uses electronic manipulation for ticking, grooving rhythmic passages.

From Los Angeles Times

In gymnastics, there is no room for any rhythmic events, with only artistic gymnastics being included.

From BBC

There is only the rhythmic idling of the car’s engine and the occasional sound of windshield wipers to evoke a beating heart.

From Salon

The electrical impulses of nerve cells are distinct from the rhythmic beating of heart cells.

From BBC

A new crop of rhythmic dance parties has landed.

From Los Angeles Times