boogie
Americannoun
-
Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Black person.
-
a lively form of rock 'n' roll, based on the blues.
verb (used without object)
-
to dance energetically, especially to rock music.
-
Slang. to go (often followed byon down ).
We boogied on down to the club to catch the comedy act.
We're gonna be late—let's boogie.
verb
-
to dance to pop music
-
to make love
noun
Etymology
Origin of boogie
An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; of uncertain origin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Decked out in a resplendent orange-and-blue-striped zoot suit symbolizing the colors of his beloved New York Knicks, Spike Lee hit the Cannes Film Festival’s red carpet in May in full boogie mode.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2025
"Because that's my lineage and the things I grew up listening to. If you want to boogie on down, you listen to a Mette record."
From BBC • May 29, 2024
Beyoncé has never sounded more southern as she sings, "It's a real-life boogie and a real-life hoedown."
From Salon • Feb. 12, 2024
“Texas Hold ’Em” begins with rapid-plucked guitar and moves into a stomping beat, with Beyoncé rhyming “Texas” and “Lexus” and singing lines like, “It’s a real live boogie and a real live hoedown.”
From New York Times • Feb. 11, 2024
With his ear protection firmly back in place, he started to boogie, throwing his wide brown hips out awkwardly to one side and then the other, while Ms. Banks swung smoothly in front of him.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
