How to use legato in a sentence

11 example sentences · adverb, noun

Legato means smoothly, in a connected manner. Example: “Play this passage legato, not portato.”

Examples of legato by meaning

adverbSmoothly, in a connected manner.

Play this passage legato, not portato.

nounA style of performance characterized by smoothly connected notes.

It is the coördination of the finger and hand as examplified in the proportionate speed of shifting according to the speed of the musical passage, which makes for evenness, continuity, smoothness, and ultimately, a fine legato.1936, Edward E. Cramer, The Basis of Artistry in Violin Playing, page 49
At the end of the prelude of Caprice V, there is a chromatic ascending and descending scale of forty-eight notes to be played in one bow in legato.1979, Leslie Sheppard, Herbert R. Axelrod ·, Paganini, page 604

nounA passage that is played legato.

A good pianist, however, will make his audience believe that he is as capable of performing a legato as is a singer or violinist.1958, József Gát, The Technique of Piano Playing, page 95
Legatos are indicated in both notations by a bow between respective notes.2000, Chroma Report, page 15

More sentences with legato

The articulation in this piece is tricky because it alternates between legato and staccato.From the entry articulation
His use of legato and the sweetness he can call upon are worthy of an unlachrymose Gigli.1990: Joel Flegler, Fanfare, volume 13, issues 5–6, page 368 (sub nomine sui). From the entry unlachrymose
Most libraries have smooth, buttery legatos and exciting, natural-sounding spiccatos.2019, Gina Zdanowicz, Spencer Bambrick, The Game Audio Strategy Guide: A Practical Course. From the entry buttery
Meade sang Bellini’s ornately embellished phrases with velvety legato; climactic high points in the flowing melody soared over the orchestra, elegantly conducted by Joseph Colaneri.2017 December 7, Anthony Tommasini, “Review: Listening at the Met, After James Levine”, in New York Times. From the entry velvety
Since the timpani is a legato instrument, a note must be allowed to sound and ring to achieve the full effect of the drum.2010, Steven L. Schweizer, Timpani Tone and the Interpretation of Baroque and Classical Music, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 38. From the entry timpani
She bravely guided us through the musical scale and urged us to memorize signature notes and musical terms: staccato, legato, forté, pianissimo.1993, Mary Helen Ponce, Hoyt Street: An Autobiography, page 254. From the entry forté

Meaning of legato

adverb Smoothly, in a connected manner.
noun A style of performance characterized by smoothly connected notes.
noun A passage that is played legato.

Full definition of legato

Questions about legato in a sentence

How do you use legato in a sentence?: Legato is used as an adverb and noun. For example: “Play this passage legato, not portato.”
What is a short sentence with legato?: “Play this passage legato, not portato.”
What does legato mean?: Legato means smoothly, in a connected manner.

Adapted from Wiktionary: legato (page history and authors) and the entries each sentence comes from. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws chose the sentences, left out offensive ones and quotations older than 1900, and marked the word in each. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Cite this page: “How to use legato in a sentence.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/sentences/legato. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.