rondo

noun

ron·​do ˈrän-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce rondo (audio)
rän-ˈdō
plural rondos
1
: an instrumental composition typically with a refrain recurring four times in the tonic and with three couplets in contrasting keys
2
: the musical form of a rondo used especially for a movement in a concerto or sonata

Examples of rondo in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It’s structured as a rondo, in which an initial or main melody is repeated in between one or more contrasting segments. — Brian Duignan, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026 Observing their midfield do a rondo in the warm-up would probably be more entertaining than many whole games elsewhere. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 30 May 2026 Slot regularly joins in with drills such as rondos or defence versus attack with player overloads and the message is all about winning the ball back quickly. — Gregg Evans, The Athletic, 2 July 2024 An étude is a short piece of music composed for one instrument, frequently as a student exercise, while a rondo is a piece of music with a recurring refrain. — Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 22 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for rondo

Word History

Etymology

Italian rondò, from Middle French rondeau

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rondo was in 1786

Rhymes for rondo

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Browse Nearby Words

rondino
rondo
Rondônia
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Cite this Entry

“Rondo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rondo. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rondo

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rondo

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