1
a
: an ordered recurrent alternation of strong and weak elements in the flow of sound and silence in speech
b
: a particular example or form of rhythm
iambic rhythm
2
b
: a characteristic rhythmic pattern
rumba rhythm
also
: meter entry 1 sense 2
c
: the group of instruments in a band supplying the rhythm
called also rhythm section
3
a
: movement, fluctuation, or variation marked by the regular recurrence or natural flow of related elements
the rhythms of country life
b
: the repetition in a literary work of phrase, incident, character type, or symbol
4
: a regularly recurrent quantitative change in a variable biological process
a circadian rhythm
compare biorhythm
5
: the effect created by the elements in a play, movie, or novel that relate to the temporal development of the action
6
Examples of rhythm in a Sentence
Jets that cross time zones in a day play havoc with the natural rhythms acquired through evolution.
—
Nancy Shelton, Skeptical Inquirer, May/June 1996
They shattered punk orthodoxy with radical politics and jagged rhythms, their rage captured in brutally succinct outbursts.
—Matt Diehl, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 1994
I would even say that when the bouncy style is not an attempt to dazzle the reader, or one's self, but to incorporate into American literary prose the rhythms, nuances, and emphases of urban and immigrant speech, the result can sometimes be a language of new and rich emotional subtleties …
—Philip Roth, Reading Myself and Others, 1975
She walked as Doctor Reefy thought he had never seen anyone walk before. To her whole body there was a swing, a rhythm that intoxicated him.
—Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio, 1919
At that the others began to gibber in unison, also rising to their feet, spreading their hands and swaying their bodies in rhythm with their chant.
—H. G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau, 1896
the composer's use of jazz rhythm
She enjoyed the quiet rhythms of country life.
Travel can disrupt your body's daily rhythm.
Nancy Shelton, Skeptical Inquirer, May/June 1996
They shattered punk orthodoxy with radical politics and jagged rhythms, their rage captured in brutally succinct outbursts.
—Matt Diehl, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 1994
I would even say that when the bouncy style is not an attempt to dazzle the reader, or one's self, but to incorporate into American literary prose the rhythms, nuances, and emphases of urban and immigrant speech, the result can sometimes be a language of new and rich emotional subtleties …
—Philip Roth, Reading Myself and Others, 1975
She walked as Doctor Reefy thought he had never seen anyone walk before. To her whole body there was a swing, a rhythm that intoxicated him.
—Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio, 1919
At that the others began to gibber in unison, also rising to their feet, spreading their hands and swaying their bodies in rhythm with their chant.
—H. G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau, 1896
the composer's use of jazz rhythm
She enjoyed the quiet rhythms of country life.
Travel can disrupt your body's daily rhythm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gammill’s quivering vocals command at every turn alongside the puncturing, skinny-legged rhythm section.
—Margaret Farrell, SPIN, 4 Apr. 2024
Too much glycyrrhizin upsets the balance of these electrolytes, which can raise blood pressure and disturb the heart’s rhythm.
—Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
Pacific Resident Theatre’s scenically striking production, directed by Marilyn Fox and Dana Jackson, doesn’t always maintain the play’s rhythm (or British locale).
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Post — along with his longtime partner, arranger-composer Pete Carpenter — was the first to incorporate rock ‘n’ roll into television scores, updating the sound of TV with electric guitars, synthesizers and pop rhythm sections.
—Jon Burlingame, Variety, 29 Mar. 2024
That trademark defense that muddies the waters for many, mucking up rhythm and leaving teams feeling hot breath on necks barely slowed the high-flying Huskies.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
From the foundation of varied sentence lengths for rhythm and readability to the persuasive power of active voice, each tip is a step toward captivating content that draws readers and leaves a lasting, positive impression.
—Renae Gregoire, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
In fact, the rhythm of these daily challenges, including feeding yourself, cleaning up messes, communicating with one another and carrying out your job, helps to regulate your stress response system and keep you fit.
—Lawson R. Wulsin, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
Bullough told The Star that while the blue family of visible light can have negative impacts on eye health and circadian rhythms over time at a high intensity, the light emanating from defective streetlights is nowhere near strong enough to affect humans’ health.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Margaret Farrell, SPIN, 4 Apr. 2024
Too much glycyrrhizin upsets the balance of these electrolytes, which can raise blood pressure and disturb the heart’s rhythm.
—Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
Pacific Resident Theatre’s scenically striking production, directed by Marilyn Fox and Dana Jackson, doesn’t always maintain the play’s rhythm (or British locale).
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Post — along with his longtime partner, arranger-composer Pete Carpenter — was the first to incorporate rock ‘n’ roll into television scores, updating the sound of TV with electric guitars, synthesizers and pop rhythm sections.
—Jon Burlingame, Variety, 29 Mar. 2024
That trademark defense that muddies the waters for many, mucking up rhythm and leaving teams feeling hot breath on necks barely slowed the high-flying Huskies.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
From the foundation of varied sentence lengths for rhythm and readability to the persuasive power of active voice, each tip is a step toward captivating content that draws readers and leaves a lasting, positive impression.
—Renae Gregoire, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
In fact, the rhythm of these daily challenges, including feeding yourself, cleaning up messes, communicating with one another and carrying out your job, helps to regulate your stress response system and keep you fit.
—Lawson R. Wulsin, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
Bullough told The Star that while the blue family of visible light can have negative impacts on eye health and circadian rhythms over time at a high intensity, the light emanating from defective streetlights is nowhere near strong enough to affect humans’ health.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rhythm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near rhythm
Cite this Entry
“Rhythm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhythm. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rhythm
noun1
: a flow of rising and falling sounds in language that is produced in verse by a regular repeating of stressed and unstressed syllables
2
: a flow of sound in music having regular accented beats
3
: a particular or typical pattern of rhythm
4
: a movement or activity in which some action repeats regularly
the rhythm of breathing
Medical Definition
rhythm
noun1
: a regularly recurrent quantitative change in a variable biological process: as
a
: the pattern of recurrence of the cardiac cycle
an irregular rhythm
b
: the recurring pattern of physical and functional changes associated with the mammalian and especially human sexual cycle
2
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