syncopate

verb
UK: /ˈsɪŋkəpeɪt/
US: /ˈsɪŋkəˌpeɪt/

  1. To change the rhythm of a piece of music by playing or emphasizing beats that are usually weak.

    1. The band will syncopate the rhythm of the song.
    2. The drummer liked to syncopate the beat, giving the music an exciting edge.

  2. To displace the beats or accents in (music or a rhythm) so that strong beats become weak and vice versa.

    1. The music starts normally, but the drummer will syncopate it.
    2. Composers syncopate melodies to create a feeling of surprise and excitement.

Synonyms

accent emphasize
syncopate adjective

  1. Having a rhythm or melody with displaced beats or accents.

    1. It has syncopate rhythm.
    2. The syncopate style of jazz always makes me want to tap my feet.
syncopate verb

  1. To omit sounds or letters from the middle of a word.

    1. Words often syncopate over time.
    2. In rapid speech, people might syncopate words for efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "syncopate" in English means: To change the rhythm of a piece of music by playing or emphasizing beats that are usually weak., To displace the beats or accents in (music or a rhythm) so that strong beats become weak and vice versa..

The phonetic transcription of "syncopate" is /ˈsɪŋkəpeɪt/ in British English and /ˈsɪŋkəˌpeɪt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "syncopate": accent, emphasize.

Example usage of "syncopate": "The band will syncopate the rhythm of the song.". More examples on the page.