quarter note

noun

: a musical note with the time value of ¼ of a whole note see note illustration

Examples of quarter note in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When the sub-bass quarter notes jump in, the buds pound them out in grand fashion. — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026 Disco music was notable for its stratified textures, anchored in the four-on-the-floor beat, which has the tendency to put the bass drum on every quarter note. — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 23 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quarter note was in 1839

Rhymes for quarter note

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Browse Nearby Words

quarter nettings
quarter note
quarteron
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Cite this Entry

“Quarter note.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarter%20note. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

quarter note

noun
: a musical note equal in time to ¼ of a whole note
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