Music. relative rapidity or rate of movement, usually indicated by such terms as adagio, allegro, etc., or by reference to the metronome.
characteristic rate, rhythm, or pattern of work or activity: the tempo of city life.
Chess. the gaining or losing of time and effectiveness relative to one's continued mobility or developing position, especially with respect to the number of moves required to gain an objective: Black gained a tempo.
Origin of tempo
1680–90; <Italian <Latin tempus time
Words nearby tempo
Temple City, Temple of Artemis, temple orange, templet, Temple Terrace, tempo, tempolabile, temporal, temporal arteritis, temporal artery, temporal bone
The basic plan of attack in 2017 was also developed under Obama, although Trump sped up the tempo by changing the rules of engagement.
Trump’s ABC News town hall: Four Pinocchios, over and over again|Glenn Kessler|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Teammates are able to work together, drafting and setting a tempo up the mountain.
Can You Reach The Summit First?|Zach Wissner-Gross|September 11, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
There are other reasons for the tempo change as well, and not just strategic ones.
The Pace Of Play Has Never Been Faster In The WNBA|Howard Megdal|August 6, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
During Williams’s tenure, Carolina has finished in the top 10 in overall adjusted efficiency margin 11 times, and it has played at the fastest tempo among the top 10 nine of those times.
Happy Birthday To Roy Williams, The Coach Who Never Changes|Santul Nerkar|July 31, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
You don’t have to run at every opportunity to win in college basketball19 — 12 of the last 13 non-UNC men’s national champions have sported adjusted tempos that ranked 100 or below — but Williams insists on doing it anyway.
Happy Birthday To Roy Williams, The Coach Who Never Changes|Santul Nerkar|July 31, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
At the same time, it has escalated the tempo of aerial bombardment and resumed its scorched earth campaign against civilians.
Satellites Correctly Predict Military Campaign Against Civilians in Sudan|Akshaya Kumar|December 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Rather it is the time to increase the size and tempo of guerrilla attacks even through the coming, bitterly cold Afghan winter.
Taliban’s Quetta Shura Meet in Islamabad to Press for Peace|Ron Moreau|November 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Crisis, pause, crisis, pause: this has been the tempo of North Korean behavior since the end of the Cold War.
What Can We Do About North Korea?|David Frum|April 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Now, with the campaign over, President Obama must set the tempo for a second term.
What Progressives Want From Obama’s Second Term|Anthony Woods|November 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
With Bachmann hanging back, Romney seized control of the tempo in what may have been his strongest performance so far.
Romney Puts Perry on Defensive|Howard Kurtz|September 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The clang of machinery, beginning slowly, increased in tempo.
The Rules of the Game|Stewart Edward White
In the south the tempo was slower, the striving for escape less hysterical and more philosophic.
Greener Than You Think|Ward Moore
No sooner had the tempo changed than a spirit of new life seemingly entered the girl's frame.
Library Of The World's Best Literature, Ancient And Modern, Vol. 5|Various
Nor was there amongst the laud players one who could play a malaguea, nor could the guitar player beat the tempo.
Poor Folk in Spain|Jan Gordon
His delicate pianissimo, the ever-changing modifications of tone and time (tempo rubato) were of indescribable effect.