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
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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.
From the outset, the festival embraced musical diversity: big band, swing, ska, blues, Dixieland and bebop.
From BBC ● May 1, 2026
Her bowed tones flow like a violinist’s, her plucked solos sometimes bite like a bebop trumpet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026
The bebop groove abandons James, too, slowing into jagged drum solos.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2025
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
This frantic, somersaulting style turned within a few years into bebop, the elite modern jazz of the late 1940s and ’50s.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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