ragtime

noun

rag·​time ˈrag-ˌtīm How to pronounce ragtime (audio)
1
: rhythm characterized by strong syncopation in the melody with a regularly accented accompaniment in stride-piano style
2
: music having ragtime rhythm

Examples of ragtime in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Featuring an incredible array of special guests, the album spanned spirituals, blues, jazz, ragtime, big band, fusion, R&B, and hip hop, and won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. Jem Aswad, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024 In 1946, Foster introduced modern dance moves to up-tempo styles of music like ragtime and jazz. Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 27 Aug. 2024 Yeston, who also co-wrote Nine and Grand Hotel, melds orchestra depth with touches of ragtime and Irish folk music. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 12 June 2024 Derived from ragtime and blues, cultivated in turn-of-the-century New Orleans, and rising to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance, the genre is a crossroads where music meets the march for justice. Ryan Doan-Nguyen and Aaron Morrison, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for ragtime 

Word History

Etymology

probably from ragged + time

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ragtime was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near ragtime

Cite this Entry

“Ragtime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ragtime. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

ragtime

noun
rag·​time ˈrag-ˌtīm How to pronounce ragtime (audio)
1
: music played with a strong march-style rhythm and a lively melody with accented notes falling on beats that are not usually accented
2
: music having ragtime rhythm

More from Merriam-Webster on ragtime

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