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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 cites the return of the instrument in Waikiki and in hula competitions, and rising prices for vintage steel guitars.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2024

Doris, who celebrated the victory with a hula dance, wore a flower behind her ear.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 12, 2024

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

From Salon • Dec. 14, 2023

“Even the graphs! The questions were all about people buying and selling everything from gasoline to hula hoops, but in my own mind, I put it in terms of tickets.”

From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar

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