beatboxing

American  

[beet-bok-sing] / ˈbitˌbɒk sɪŋ /

noun

1. a musical style or technique, especially in hip-hop, in which the sounds and rhythms of percussion instruments or a drum machine are simulated by using the mouth and voice.

   We heard some amazing beatboxing last night.

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beatboxing British  

/ ˈbiːtˌbɒksɪŋ /

noun

1. a form of hip-hop music in which the voice is used to simulate percussion instruments

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Other Word Forms

• beatboxer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of beatboxing

1985–90, beatbox (verb) + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

beatboxing

You start the special by playing with the audience and getting people loose by showing off your beatboxing skills.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2025

The wisps of rap and folk songs early on, backed by sparse arrangements of acoustic guitar, vocalizations and beatboxing, are more texture than fully realized numbers.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 5, 2023

Shlomo, from Fleet, Hampshire, is now drawing on his experience with a show for families, most recently staged in Sussex and Kent, showing how beatboxing can help with children's mental health.

From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2022

Generation Z kids and their parents might remember his beatboxing segment on the madcap Nickelodeon show “Yo! Gabba Gabba.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2021

When he does stuff like this, rapping and beatboxing in the middle of a busy hall just to make me smile, I forget about those looks too.

From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas