breakdance

1 of 2

verb

break·​dance ˈbrāk-ˌdan(t)s 

variants or break dance or less commonly break-dance

breakdanced or break danced also break-danced; breakdancing or break dancing also break-dancing; breakdances or break dances also break-dances

intransitive verb

: to dance in a hip-hop style by performing a series of acrobatic moves that often involve touching various parts of the body (such as the back or head) to the ground : to engage in breakdancing

The girls breakdance, whirling on the floor …

—Robert Sullivan

… [Christian] Wilkins, surrounded by teammates, began break-dancing in the end zone.

—Marcel Louis-Jacques

As a poet, hip-hop artist, and b-girl (a girl that break dances), Chilli is a huge advocate for using the arts as a tool for social justice.

—e-democracy.org

In January, a class from Plaisance Middle School clapped and cheered as their attention was fixated on the floor where dancers were breakdancing to hip-hop music.

—Patrice Doucet

break dance

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noun

variants or breakdance

ˈbrāk-ˌdan(t)s 

or less commonly break-dance

plural break dances or breakdances also break-dances

1

: a style of hip-hop dance in which soloists perform acrobatic moves that often involve touching various parts of the body (such as the back or head) to the ground : breakdancing

… Sandro is a keen boxer and has a background in ballet and breakdance too.

—Natalie Oganesyan

—often used before another noun

break dance lessons

a breakdance competition

a break-dance routine

2

: the act or an instance of breakdancing

… 17 student-teacher dance pairs rocked the stage with salsas, break dances, and more.

—Sam Deady

Examples of breakdance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That was also true of Rachael Gunn, performing under the nom de breakdancing Raygun while representing Australia at the Summer Olympics. —Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2024

That made the timing perfect for breakdancing — breaking, as it was known in its Bronx basement days — to be showcased as an official Olympic sport. —Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2024

Noun

Back to the Yards at Yards Park Yards Park’s annual tribute to neon, glow sticks and retro tunes returns to the Anacostia waterfront, with crafting stations, break dance performances, arcade games, and DJs spinning ’80s and ’90s hits. —Chris Richards, Washington Post, 28 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1983, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1983, in the meaning defined at sense 1