Intonation
noun
The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.
Her voice had a questioning intonation.
Often appears as...
- questioning intonation
- happy intonation
noun
The action of intoning or reciting in a measured, rhythmic way.
The intonation of the choir was perfect.
Often appears as...
- perfect intonation
- choir intonation
Usage tips
Technical
noun
The accuracy of pitch in playing a musical instrument.
The violinist had excellent intonation.
Often appears as...
- excellent intonation
- instrument intonation
Usage tips
Technical
noun
The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.
Her voice had a questioning intonation.
Often appears as...
- questioning intonation
- happy intonation
noun
The action of intoning or reciting in a measured, rhythmic way.
The intonation of the choir was perfect.
Often appears as...
- perfect intonation
- choir intonation
Usage tips
Technical
noun
The accuracy of pitch in playing a musical instrument.
The violinist had excellent intonation.
Often appears as...
- excellent intonation
- instrument intonation
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Tone
Intonation reflects feelings; a rising tone often suggests surprise or questioning.
You're moving to Spain?
Pro Tip 2/3Sentence Stress
Different intonation can change the part of the sentence we want to emphasize.
I don't need HELP, but I need TIME.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Context
Intonation can convey politeness or rudeness, often indicated by tone pitch and pattern.
Could you, please, close the door?
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Tone
Intonation reflects feelings; a rising tone often suggests surprise or questioning.
You're moving to Spain?
Pro Tip 2/3Sentence Stress
Different intonation can change the part of the sentence we want to emphasize.
I don't need HELP, but I need TIME.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Context
Intonation can convey politeness or rudeness, often indicated by tone pitch and pattern.
Could you, please, close the door?
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Tone
Intonation reflects feelings; a rising tone often suggests surprise or questioning.
You're moving to Spain?
Pro Tip 2/3Sentence Stress
Different intonation can change the part of the sentence we want to emphasize.
I don't need HELP, but I need TIME.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Context
Intonation can convey politeness or rudeness, often indicated by tone pitch and pattern.
Could you, please, close the door?
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Video examples
Roger Ebert: Remaking my...
He said he recorded many long hours in various intonations to be used in the voice. A very large sample is needed. John All my life I was a motormouth. Now I have spoken my last words, and I don't even remember for sure
Video examples
Can you solve the...
And don't even try saying words other than black or white or signaling some other way, like intonation or volume; you'll all be eaten immediately. If at least nine of you guess correctly, you'll all be spared.
Video examples
Roger Ebert: Remaking my...
He said he recorded many long hours in various intonations to be used in the voice. A very large sample is needed. John All my life I was a motormouth. Now I have spoken my last words, and I don't even remember for sure
Video examples
Can you solve the...
And don't even try saying words other than black or white or signaling some other way, like intonation or volume; you'll all be eaten immediately. If at least nine of you guess correctly, you'll all be spared.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Kat Edmonson
American Musician
I would spend hours absorbing every intonation, every inflection - how the singer would convey a sentiment and how it would sound coming out of their head. All of those things I very carefully watched and absorbed, and so I guess I was studying my whole life, although not in any sort of conventional way.
Quote examples
Stana Katic
Canadian Actress
I love accents; I would love to find more characters with a variety of vocal intonations. It creates a character. It's like you're singing a song. Some people find their character through walking or movement - for me, voice is one of the ways I find parts of the character.
Quote examples
Ruggiero Ricci
American Musician
Of course the most difficult thing on the violin is always intonation. The second one is rhythm. If you play in tune, in time with a good sound that's already high level. Those three are the main things.
Quote examples
Henry Irving
English Actor
You speak into it and everything is recorded, voice, tone, intonation, everything. You turn a little wheel, and forth it comes, and can be repeated ten thousand times. Only fancy what this suggests.
Quote examples
Susan Sullivan
American Actress
If you're cast right you can actually just let yourself go because all your gestures will be right, all your intonations will be right because you just somewhere understand who this person is.
Quote examples
Stan Getz
American Musician
The saxophone is an imperfect instrument, especially the tenor and soprano, as far as intonation goes. The challenge is to sing on an imperfect instrument that is outside of your body.
Quote examples
Lara St. John
Canadian Musician
There is no earthly reason why a solo string instrument or voice, having the possibility to play or sing pure intonation, should want, or try, to be tempered.
Quote examples
Marcel Proust
French Author
Our intonations contain our philosophy of life, what each of us is constantly telling himself about things.
Quote examples
Pierre Boulez
French Composer
The most difficult problem in conducting is intonation. You must know what is wrong and how to correct it.
Quote examples
Lucinda Williams
American Musician
I love Emmylou Harris's version of my song, 'Sweet Old World.' Her intonation is great.
Quote examples
Kat Edmonson
American Musician
I would spend hours absorbing every intonation, every inflection - how the singer would convey a sentiment and how it would sound coming out of their head. All of those things I very carefully watched and absorbed, and so I guess I was studying my whole life, although not in any sort of conventional way.
Quote examples
Stana Katic
Canadian Actress
I love accents; I would love to find more characters with a variety of vocal intonations. It creates a character. It's like you're singing a song. Some people find their character through walking or movement - for me, voice is one of the ways I find parts of the character.
Quote examples
Ruggiero Ricci
American Musician
Of course the most difficult thing on the violin is always intonation. The second one is rhythm. If you play in tune, in time with a good sound that's already high level. Those three are the main things.
Quote examples
Henry Irving
English Actor
You speak into it and everything is recorded, voice, tone, intonation, everything. You turn a little wheel, and forth it comes, and can be repeated ten thousand times. Only fancy what this suggests.
Quote examples
Susan Sullivan
American Actress
If you're cast right you can actually just let yourself go because all your gestures will be right, all your intonations will be right because you just somewhere understand who this person is.
Quote examples
Stan Getz
American Musician
The saxophone is an imperfect instrument, especially the tenor and soprano, as far as intonation goes. The challenge is to sing on an imperfect instrument that is outside of your body.
Quote examples
Lara St. John
Canadian Musician
There is no earthly reason why a solo string instrument or voice, having the possibility to play or sing pure intonation, should want, or try, to be tempered.
Quote examples
Marcel Proust
French Author
Our intonations contain our philosophy of life, what each of us is constantly telling himself about things.
Quote examples
Pierre Boulez
French Composer
The most difficult problem in conducting is intonation. You must know what is wrong and how to correct it.
Quote examples
Lucinda Williams
American Musician
I love Emmylou Harris's version of my song, 'Sweet Old World.' Her intonation is great.
Example 1 of 10
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