Which term means slow down gradually?

• A. Ritardando
• B. Ritenuto
• C. Sempre
• D. Simile

Answer: (A)

When a composer wants the music to slow down gradually, the marking used is ritardando. This tells you to let the tempo creep down a bit at a time over the course of the passage, so each beat stretches just a touch longer than the one before. It creates a natural, unfolding deceleration that leads smoothly into the next section.

Ritenuto, by contrast, means holding back or briefly delaying the tempo, often more abrupt and confined to a short spot rather than a long, gradual sail into a slower tempo. Sempre means always, so it directs you to continue at the current tempo. Simile means to continue in the same manner as before, typically repeating the same articulation or tempo pattern rather than signaling a tempo change.

So the term that best matches “slow down gradually” is ritardando.