Learn English – the difference in meaning between “pattern” and “rhythm”

american-englishbritish-englishdifferencesnouns

What is the difference in meaning between pattern and rhythm?

It seems to me that the former is more American-English and the latter more British-English. Are these more or less synonyms or are there some subtile differences?

It seems to me that pattern is more common than rhythm.

Best Answer

The words have different but related meanings. A pattern is a general term for anything that has repetition or other regularity, so it can be seen, heard or otherwise perceived. People often talk about patterns on a dress, or patterns in behavior.

A rhythm is a pattern in time, most commonly used to describe music or speech. Another common use of rhythm is when one is said to be "in a rhythm." This means a person is doing something at a sustainable and comfortable pace, almost as if they were following the beat of music.