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

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Etymology

Origin of beatboxing

1985–90, beatbox (verb) + -ing ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

beatboxing

“Drop” opens up with bare-bones looped beatboxing before threading in dramatic melody upon layers of synth and howled refrains.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 21, 2025

Carter made use of the club’s subwoofers with his flashlight, putting his humorously sharp beatboxing party starter skills on display to test the limits of the Kookaburra’s sound system.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2024

Among the supporting cast, Olivia Griffin and John Kent Rickenbacker Jr. provide the musical accompaniment, with Griffin’s music therapist/yoga teacher playing the guitar and Rickenbacker’s nurse beatboxing.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 5, 2023

As drums vanished, the beat leaped into the body and became tap dance, hip-hop, beatboxing.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 4, 2022

In the open, dusty area between wrecked car mountains, Rutilio executed an off-kilter pirouette in time to his own breathy beatboxing.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older

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