What does "intonation" mean?
The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.
Intonation
/ɪntəˈneɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.
- Grammar: intonation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: accent, accentuation, adaptation, af.
- Useful contrasts: dissonance, monotone.
- Usage evidence: Pay more attention to intonation when you speak English.
How to use "intonation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "intonation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "intonation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "intonation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "intonation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "intonation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "accent" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "intonation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The rise and fall of the voice in speaking. countable, uncountable
- 2 the production of musical tones (by voice or instrument); especially the exactitude of the pitch relations wordnet
- 3 Emotive stress used to increase the power of delivery in speech. countable, uncountable
"She well knew the power of intonation, and thought that, in the absence of the curled lip, the contemptuous twitch of the nose, and the supercilious toss of the head, her message might be acceptable for Louisa's sake,..."
- 4 the act of singing in a monotonous tone wordnet
- 5 A sound made by, or resembling that made by, a musical instrument. countable, uncountable
"This additional cause of the intonation of thunder, together with the simile with which it is illustrated, is copied from our poet, both by Pliny, Nat. Hist. ii, 431, and Isidorus, Orig. xiii."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 singing by a soloist of the opening piece of plainsong wordnet
- 7 Singing or playing in good tune or otherwise. countable, uncountable
"Her intonation was false."
- 8 rise and fall of the voice pitch wordnet
- 9 Reciting in a musical prolonged tone; intonating or singing of the opening phrase of a plain-chant, psalm, or canticle by a single voice, as of a priest. countable, uncountable
Antonyms
Example
"Pay more attention to intonation when you speak English."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "intonation"?
Common synonyms include: accent, accentuation, adaptation, af, arrangement, articulation.
How do you use "intonation" in a sentence?
Pay more attention to intonation when you speak English.
How do you pronounce "intonation"?
Pronounced /ɪntəˈneɪʃən/.
Etymology
From French intonation, from Medieval Latin intonatio, from intonō + -tiō.