rubato

[ roo-bah-toh; Italian roo-bah-taw ]

adjective

1. having certain notes arbitrarily lengthened while others are correspondingly shortened, or vice versa.

noun

, plural ru·ba·tos, ru·ba·ti [roo-, bah, -tee, r, oo-, bah, -tee].

1. a rubato phrase or passage.
2. a rubato performance.

adverb

1. in a rubato manner.

rubato

/ ruːˈbɑːtəʊ /

noun

1. flexibility of tempo in performance

adjective

1. to be played with a flexible tempo

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubato¹

1880–85; < Italian ( tempo ) rubato stolen (time), past participle of rubare to steal < Germanic; rob

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubato¹

C19: from the Italian phrase tempo rubato , literally: stolen time, from rubare to rob

Example Sentences

The team dubbed this phenomenon “rubato”—a musical term denoting a subtle change in tempo.

From Science Magazine

His rubato breathes naturally yet energetically; there’s a vitality and sense of forward motion even in slower pieces.

From New York Times

That nimble versatility also made for fluid shifts between limpid precision and alluring rubato, between concerto virtuosity and the recital-like intimacy with which he opened the famous 18th Variation.

From New York Times

It relies on this sense of timing and rubato that’s pretty hard to get even with an entire orchestra.

From New York Times

Once Judith LeClair’s opening bassoon solo unfurled with liberal rubato, his “Rite” remained organic, in its wildness more unpredictably frightening than van Zweden’s brash yet controlled account.

From New York Times