Home UK English ad libitum

Meaning of ad libitum in English:

ad libitum

adverb

  • 1formal, technical As much or as often as necessary or desired.

    ‘dieters who ate ad libitum attributed more of their distress to their eating behaviour’

  • 2Music
    (especially as a direction) with free rhythm and expression.

    ‘the whole orchestra begins to play ad libitum’

adjective

  • 1formal, technical Occurring, used, or distributed as often as necessary or desired.

    ‘animals that have been fed on an ad libitum basis will expect this unlimited food availability’

  • 2Music
    Performed with free rhythm and expression.

    ‘the piece could be played with an ad libitum orchestral accompaniment’

Origin

Latin, literally ‘according to pleasure’.

Pronunciation

ad libitum

/ad ˈlɪbɪtəm/