dubstep

American  

[duhb-step] / ˈdʌbˌstɛp /

noun

1. a style of mostly instrumental electronic music, originating in London, influenced by dub and characterized by syncopated rhythm and an emphasis on bass and drum elements.

---

dubstep British  

/ ˈdʌbˌstɛp /

noun

1. a genre of electronic music conveying a dark and brooding atmosphere through prominent bass lines

---

Etymology

Origin of dubstep

2000–05; dub ⁴ (in the sense “a subgenre of reggae produced by remixing”) + step

---

Compare meaning

How does dubstep compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• EDM vs. dubstep

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dubstep

A U.K. version of the heavily processed, bass-saturated sound known as dubstep was gaining prominence, and Ms. Ware was loosely associated with this scene.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026

Seaver likes to tell people that when he first met Day, she was doing pop sessions, but all she listened to was the dubstep music she’d fallen in love with as a kid.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026

It's got disco, it's got dubstep, it's kind of a perfect pop album.

From Salon ● Nov. 24, 2024

"It’s why you have these other genres like grime, bassline, dubstep, which you can say are the children of garage."

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2024

Leo had also installed a keyboard, monitor, aviation controls from a Learjet, a dubstep soundboard, and motion-control sensors from a Nintendo Wii.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---