presto

[ pres-toh ]

adverb

1. quickly, rapidly, or immediately.
2. at a rapid tempo (used as a musical direction).

adjective

1. quick or rapid.
2. executed at a rapid tempo (used as a musical direction).

noun

, plural pres·tos.

1. Music. a movement or piece in quick tempo.

presto

/ ˈprɛstəʊ /

adjective

1. music to be played very fast

adverb

1. immediately, suddenly, or at once (esp in the phrase hey presto )

noun

1. music a movement or passage directed to be played very quickly

Word History and Origins

Origin of presto¹

1590–1600; < Italian: quick, quickly < Late Latin praestus (adj.) ready, Latin praestō (adv.) at hand

Word History and Origins

Origin of presto¹

C16: from Italian: fast, from Late Latin praestus (adj) ready to hand, Latin praestō (adv) present

Example Sentences

A legal success, and presto, it’s alive again.

From Seattle Times

Then, presto — all that data appeared on the Android.

From New York Times

Start with a dysfunctional City Council majority, add a pandemic and its effects, throw in metropolitan areas and states upping their game and … presto!

From Seattle Times

You combine the need for an authoritarian with the evangelical/fervent belief in God’s ordained plan, presto - you have Donald Trump.

From Salon

A blob that learns to walk could share genes with a squiggle that swims, and presto, you’d have a walking blob-squiggle.

From Washington Post