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
: 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
Robert Sullivan… [Christian] Wilkins, surrounded by teammates, began break-dancing in the end zone.—Marcel Louis-Jacques
Marcel Louis-JacquesAs 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
e-democracy.orgIn 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
Patrice Doucet
variants
or breakdance
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 nounNatalie Oganesyanbreak 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
Sam DeadyExamples of breakdance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebOlivia Munson, USA TODAY, 24 June 2024
Breaking, also known as breakdancing, originated in the late 1970sin the New York City borough of the Bronx.
—Amy Pope, Discover Magazine, 17 June 2024
The vote to approve is scheduled for an IOC session preceding the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, which has already raised eyebrows with the addition of breakdancing.
—David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2024
The event will feature a variety of activities and performances designed to engage and entertain all ages, including art, food, music and sidewalk chalk art, as well as a breakdancing showcase, dancers, rappers and a steel drummer, according to a news release from DSC.
—Allana Haynes, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2024
The Olympics organization describes breaking—also known as breakdancing—as an urban style of dance rooted in hip hop culture.
—Condé Nast, SELF, 13 June 2024
But for the first time there will also be breakdancing, a competition set to unfold at La Concorde, thereby enabling the world to see someone do the Worm in the same public square where Marie Antoinette was executed.
—Vulture Staff, Vulture, 24 May 2024
Once the Games begin, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing, which all debuted at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will be among the 32 sports in the Games—as well as one new addition: breaking (aka breakdancing).
—Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024
The Recess District will present the art of performance with rollerskating, gymnastics, breakdancing, double-dutch jump rope and cheerleading as well as a skateboard competition and a wrestling showcase called Bumbermania!
—Taylor Mims, Billboard, 21 May 2024
Chris Richards, Washington Post, 28 Sep. 2023
Verb
One new sport was added to the lineup: breaking, commonly known as breakdancing.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 24 June 2024
Breaking, also known as breakdancing, originated in the late 1970sin the New York City borough of the Bronx.
—Amy Pope, Discover Magazine, 17 June 2024
The vote to approve is scheduled for an IOC session preceding the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, which has already raised eyebrows with the addition of breakdancing.
—David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2024
The event will feature a variety of activities and performances designed to engage and entertain all ages, including art, food, music and sidewalk chalk art, as well as a breakdancing showcase, dancers, rappers and a steel drummer, according to a news release from DSC.
—Allana Haynes, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2024
The Olympics organization describes breaking—also known as breakdancing—as an urban style of dance rooted in hip hop culture.
—Condé Nast, SELF, 13 June 2024
But for the first time there will also be breakdancing, a competition set to unfold at La Concorde, thereby enabling the world to see someone do the Worm in the same public square where Marie Antoinette was executed.
—Vulture Staff, Vulture, 24 May 2024
Once the Games begin, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing, which all debuted at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will be among the 32 sports in the Games—as well as one new addition: breaking (aka breakdancing).
—Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024
The Recess District will present the art of performance with rollerskating, gymnastics, breakdancing, double-dutch jump rope and cheerleading as well as a skateboard competition and a wrestling showcase called Bumbermania!
—Taylor Mims, Billboard, 21 May 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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breakdance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near breakdance
Cite this Entry
“Breakdance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakdance. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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