cresc.

Arts & Entertainment abbreviation · Music

cresc.
Stands forCrescendo
CategoriesArts & Entertainment

cresc. stands for Crescendo, a music abbreviation.

Instruction to gradually increase loudness, written as the abbreviation or as an opening "hairpin" wedge under the notes. A crescendo can span a few beats or many bars.

Example: Mark cresc. over the last four bars into the chorus.

Usage notes

Italian for "growing". In everyday English "crescendo" is often misused to mean the climax itself rather than the build toward it. A crescendo is frequently paired with a diminuendo afterward.

More music abbreviations

  • BMI – Broadcast Music, Inc.
  • BPM – Beats per minute
  • BTS – Bangtan Sonyeondan
  • BWV – Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (Bach Works Catalogue)
  • CHR – Contemporary hit radio
  • CMA – Country Music Association
  • D.C. – Da capo
  • D.S. – Dal segno
  • DAW – Digital audio workstation
  • DI – Direct input
  • dim. – Diminuendo
  • DJ – Disc jockey

See all 56 music abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.