adv
presto
PREHS-toh
adv
1
A musical direction meaning very fast; also used to mean something happens suddenly, as if by magic.
"The pianist raced through the final movement, marked presto."
"Mix the ingredients, wait five minutes, and presto — dinner is ready."
intj
1
Said by a magician at the moment a trick is revealed, like "ta-da".
"The magician waved his wand and said, "Presto!" as the rabbit appeared."
How to Use Presto
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA flashy way of saying "suddenly" or "just like that", borrowed from magicians and musicians.
Common pairings
presto chango
and presto
Word Forms
Prestos plural
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The pianist raced through the final movement, marked _____.
Etymology
From Italian presto, "quickly."