1. to modify (a musical rhythm) by stressing the weak beat
Usage: music
2. to shorten (a word) by omitting sounds or letters from the middle
Usage: linguistics

Examples

• The jazz pianist syncopates the melody to create a swinging rhythm.
• She syncopates the beat by emphasizing the off-beats.
• The composer syncopates traditional melodies in his modern arrangements.
• In casual speech, he syncopates words like ‘cannot’ to ‘can’t’.
• The drummer syncopates the rhythm to add complexity to the song.
• Latin syncopates many words through natural sound changes over time.