boogie
Americannoun
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boogies
plural
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Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Black person.
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a lively form of rock 'n' roll, based on the blues.
verb (used without object)
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boogies,
present (3rd person singular)
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boogied,
past participle, past
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boogieing
present participle
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to dance energetically, especially to rock music.
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Slang. to go (often followed byon down ).
We boogied on down to the club to catch the comedy act.
We're gonna be late—let's boogie.
verb
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to dance to pop music
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to make love
noun
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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boogiesimple
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boogiessimple
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have boogiedperfect
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has boogiedperfect
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am boogieingprogressive
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are boogieingprogressive
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is boogieingprogressive
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have been boogieingperfect progressive
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has been boogieingperfect progressive
Past
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boogiedsimple
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had boogiedperfect
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was boogieingprogressive
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were boogieingprogressive
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had been boogieingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of boogie
An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; of uncertain origin
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.
See Examples For:
She ended her short speech by going on the dance floor to greet well-wishers and boogie for a bit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
In Little Sam’s Island & Beach Fun, boogie boards and water toys sat unrented in the near-empty shop.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
He had planned to tour in October and November with Tom Seals's boogie woogie band, but they put it back until 2025 because they could not get the theatre dates they wanted, he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2024
Beyoncé has never sounded more southern as she sings, "It's a real-life boogie and a real-life hoedown."
From Salon ● Feb. 12, 2024
Relieved, I start down the wooden steps to the beach, but by the time I’m halfway down, I see Tressa walking out of the waves with a boogie board.
From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Here, L.A.'s coolest lewks come out; everyone boogies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2021
Her albums were thoroughly modern, collecting polished country-pop pining and rocking roadhouse boogies, and so was her unfettered version of womanhood.
From New York Times ● Aug. 19, 2019
“And we’re bipartisan this year,” joked one of the night’s attendees, pointing out yet another change in the way Washington boogies in 2017.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 8, 2017
“All by Myself” is playing, as it was in the opening credits of the first movie—but then the song changes, and Bridget boogies to House of Pain’s “Jump Around.”
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 24, 2016
Whether I play the blues or boogies, concertos or cantatas, I forget about me.
From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper
The actor was spotlighted in several episodes during the show’s second season, particularly the finale, when Mr. Milchick boogied while backing a marching band during an employee celebration for completing the Cold Harbor file.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2025
Convention attendees also saw the moves of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who boogied his way to the stage to giggles in the room.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2024
Some gleeful fans turned around to shoot selfies with Bieber, who wore a a black skullcap, shades, a white hoodie and a sparkling necklace as he boogied in the background.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 12, 2022
People took to the streets and boogied down to Steam's 1969 hit "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye."
From Salon ● Nov. 16, 2020
And while the crowd clapped, called out, and boogied on that last song, Clayton found an opening to plead his case.
From "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" by Rita Williams-Garcia
This observation was encapsulated quite profoundly by one Gen-X Threads user, who directed a few thoughts at “younger respondents” underneath a video of one middle-aged mama absolutely boogieing down.
From Salon ● May 27, 2024
On Wednesday, Theresa May seemed to focus on the latter, making her entrance for her big conference speech by boogieing to Abba's Dancing Queen.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2018
Related: Ian McKellen: 'Gandalf the Grey likes boogieing around Hobbiton and having a drink' “There’s nothing scary about acting with her,” he continued.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 21, 2015
The party will include refreshments, giveaways, snacks, prizes, a professional D.J. and, according to the organization, no boogieing adults.
From New York Times ● Nov. 19, 2015
I don’t know what he was doing, but he was boogieing now.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 19, 2015
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