Which term means slowing down gradually?

Which term means slowing down gradually?

• A. Accelerando
• B. Ritardando
• C. Rallentando
• D. Rubato

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how tempo is changed in music. Ritardando tells the performer to slow the tempo smoothly over a passage, so the beat gradually becomes slower and the pace eases to a new speed. Accelerando means speeding up, not slowing down. Rubato allows flexible timing for expressive effect rather than a defined slow-down. Rallentando also indicates a gradual slowdown, but ritardando is the standard, more precise term for a deliberate gradual decrease in speed. That’s why ritardando is the best fit for “slowing down gradually.”

The main idea here is how tempo is changed in music. Ritardando tells the performer to slow the tempo smoothly over a passage, so the beat gradually becomes slower and the pace eases to a new speed. Accelerando means speeding up, not slowing down. Rubato allows flexible timing for expressive effect rather than a defined slow-down. Rallentando also indicates a gradual slowdown, but ritardando is the standard, more precise term for a deliberate gradual decrease in speed. That’s why ritardando is the best fit for “slowing down gradually.”