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hula

American

[hoo-luh] / ˈhu lə /

noun

a sinuous Hawaiian dance with intricate arm movements that tell a story in pantomime, usually danced to rhythmic drumming and accompanied by chanting.

hula British

/ ˈhuːlə /

noun

a Hawaiian dance performed by a woman

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hula

Borrowed into English from Hawaiian around 1815–25

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.

Joan Anderson, who coined the name for the hula hoop and played an unsung role in its rise, has died age 101.

From BBC • Jul. 29, 2025

He reveals that he sprained it while hula hooping and he even shows photos.

From Salon • Dec. 14, 2023

“I say, ‘Maybe there’s hula dancers in here.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2023

Kaliko Storer’s first job was dancing hula when she was 14.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 24, 2023

I say I have to stay after school, which is true: I’m painting the decorations for the next dance, palm trees and girls in hula skirts.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023