choreograph

American  

[kawr-ee-uh-graf, -grahf, kohr-] / ˈkɔr i əˌgræf, -ˌgrɑf, ˈkoʊr- /

verb (used with object)

• choreographs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• choreographed,
  past participle,  past
• choreographing
  present participle

1. to provide the choreography for.

   to choreograph a musical comedy.

2. to manage, maneuver, or direct.

   The author is a genius at choreographing a large cast of characters.

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verb (used without object)

• choreographs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• choreographed,
  past participle,  past
• choreographing
  present participle

1. to work as a choreographer.

choreograph British  

/ ˈkɒrɪəˌɡræf /

verb

1. (tr) to compose the steps and dances for (a piece of music or ballet)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• rechoreograph
  verb (used with object)
• unchoreographed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• choreographing
  present
• choreographed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• choreograph
  simple
• choreographs
  simple
• have choreographed
  perfect
• has choreographed
  perfect
• am choreographing
  progressive
• are choreographing
  progressive
• is choreographing
  progressive
• have been choreographing
  perfect progressive
• has been choreographing
  perfect progressive

Past

• choreographed
  simple
• had choreographed
  perfect
• was choreographing
  progressive
• were choreographing
  progressive
• had been choreographing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will choreograph
  simple
• will have choreographed
  perfect
• will be choreographing
  progressive
• will have been choreographing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of choreograph

First recorded in 1875–80; back formation from choreography

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Explanation

To choreograph is to make a dance, designing each move for a dancer to perform. Some dancers choreograph their own dances, although usually a choreographer does it. A dance, whether ballet or bhangra, is made up of a sequence of movements and steps — when you plan those movements, you choreograph. You might also choreograph other kinds of routines, like figure skating, cheerleading, or a marching band performance. You can even use the word to describe planning things that don't involve physical movement: "My managers are control freaks, they'll probably choreograph the whole meeting." The Greek roots are khoreia, "dance," and graphein, "to write."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

choreograph choreographs choreographed choreographing

I relied on Michael to find all the dancers and choreograph all the dancing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

How will Team Burnham choreograph the moment where he walks up to the lectern to address the country?

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

But for Beijing, which likes to carefully choreograph such events to avoid any possibility of embarrassment, Trump's free-wheeling style is proving a challenge.

From Barron's ● Mar. 14, 2026

An instructor once joked we should choreograph a routine where my feet never touched the ground.

From Salon ● Jan. 1, 2026

Rishi watched his brother choreograph the new dance, getting 360-degree video shots of Dimple and Rishi dancing.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

While Kelly, for all his talent, was not the most technical ballet dancer himself, he choreographs each sequence to his dancers’ strengths.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

But this film choreographs every person in the room with their own agenda, personality and character.

From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2024

He carefully choreographs the physical aspects of his sets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2023

“I love choreography as a second talent for me, but I don’t see myself being an artistic director who choreographs a lot,” he said.

From Seattle Times ● May 29, 2023

The book, music, and lyrics are by David Rossmer and Steve Rosen; Donna Feore choreographs and directs.

From New York Times ● Sep. 8, 2022

This all-new incarnation of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders was unlike anything professional sports had seen: an elite troupe of hyperproficient showgirls with pompoms, virtuosically twirling and leg-kicking their way through choreographed routines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

A humanoid’s frantic attempts to stay upright—arms flailing, legs skittering—bears an uncanny resemblance to the choreographed collapses of Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton.

From Slate ● Sep. 27, 2026

But the new show, directed by Lorin Latarro and choreographed by David Neumann, has heart — there I go with that overused word again!

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

Solsjkaer's side embodied United's DNA before Ruben Amorim looked to play a more choreographed and risk-averse style of play.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

Doing them as part of a larger choreographed piece.

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio

In time Mr. Quan pivoted successfully to choreographing action sequences for film and television before deciding at almost 50 that he wanted to return to acting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

The production, directed by Thomas Kail, who won a Tony for his electrifying work on the musical “Hamilton,” incorporates the movement of Steven Hoggett, an expert at choreographing dramatic texts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2025

He said he was "really excited" to get back to choreographing and teaching, but added that he was also feeling a few nerves, having been away from the show for two years.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2024

“A lot of the show is really about the catharsis of opening up to the community around oneself,” Peck, who is directing and choreographing the show, said in an interview.

From New York Times ● Mar. 19, 2024

We spent the rest of the morning choreographing steps around fire hydrants and mailboxes.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

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