Meaning
A tempo in which strict timing is relaxed, the music being played near, but not on, the beat.
Etymology
Origin: Italian
Borrowed from Italian rubato (“robbed, stolen”), since the time is "borrowed".
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2021, 2026.