Rhythmic Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms rhythmic American [rith-mik] / ˈrɪð mɪk /

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.

rhythmic British / ˈrɪðmɪk, ˈrɪðmɪkəl, rɪðˈmɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• hyperrhythmic adjective
• nonrhythmic adjective
• rhythmically adverb
• rhythmicity noun
• semirhythmic adjective
• unrhythmic adjective

Etymology

Origin of rhythmic

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To the uninitiated, cross-country skiing looks like a graceful, rhythmic activity set against a hushed winter landscape.

From The Wall Street Journal

"But once we examined the acoustic structure closely, the even, rhythmic purr turned out to be the better cue for identifying individual cats."

From Science Daily

The waves lapped a rhythmic accompaniment and, far in the distance, a sea gull cried.

From Literature

He filmed the process for TikTok, giggling at his flubs and using his hands to accentuate the rhythmic cadence of the language.

From The Wall Street Journal

It collapses cruelty and pleasure, grace and grief into a rhythmic kaleidoscope of feeling.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.