bebop
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bebop
An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; probably from the nonsense syllables typical of scat singing
Compare meaning
How does bebop compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
He played his first gig in the Bronx, N.Y., at age 14, and five years later he was hired as a sideman on his first recording session, accompanying bebop vocalist Babs Gonzales in 1949.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
His playing from the ’40s, when bebop was becoming the principal jazz dialect, still sounds remarkable.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2024
Although he was in his 50s, he embraced rap music because he saw similarities with the energy of bebop jazz, and because may of its stars had risen out of hardship on the streets.
From BBC • Nov. 4, 2024
Heath, who was known as Tootie, was primarily a bebop and hard bop drummer but was adept in a range of styles.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 12, 2024
The fact that the ‘new’ was narrowly defined as ‘contemporary classical’ rather than, say, bebop is indicative of this.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
