Standard Lemma guide

presto

adv · intj · name · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɛstəʊ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: prĕs'tō
  • US: /ˈpɹɛstoʊ/
  • rhymes with -ɛstəʊ
  • CMU ARPABET: P R EH1 S T OW2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

Very fast or quickly; a directive for the musician(s) to play in a very quick tempo.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

intj

Meaning 2

Used by magicians when performing a trick; ta-da; voilà.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • So I put my hand into the hat and presto! Out comes a rabbit!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: alakazam, hocus-pocus, abracadabra, hey pass, hey presto, kazaam, presto, presto chango, shazam

Antonyms: none provided

3

name

Meaning 3

A surname.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A pair of fives as a starting hand in Texas hold 'em.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, uncountable

Topics: card-games, poker

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

(of tempo) very fast

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adverb

Meaning 6

suddenly- Swift

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Presto! begone! 'tis here again

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adverb

Meaning 7

at a very fast tempo (faster than allegro)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Italian presto (“quickly”).

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: abrakadabra — used by magicians
  • Polish: bim sala bim — used by magicians
  • Polish: czary-mary — used by magicians
  • Polish: hokus-pokus — used by magicians
  • Portuguese: pronto! — used by magicians