juke
1 Americanverb (used with object)
noun
noun
Etymology
Origin of juke1
Spelling variant of jouk
Origin of juke2
By shortening
Explanation
Use the word juke when you talk about a little roadside bar where you can dance to jukebox music or a live band. Another word for a juke is a "roadhouse." If you visit a rowdy rural bar with dancing and beer, you can call it a juke. Many country and blues bands got their start playing at jukes in the south, although some jukes offer jukeboxes as their only music. You can also call it a "juke joint." The word juke comes from the Southern United States Creole known as Gullah — in which juke or joog means "wicked" or "disorderly."
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:
Unless James can juke Father Time and pull off another odds-defying dead lift for the ages.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
Walking through the exhibition, specially-programmed headsets react to the environment - creating a personalised DJ Mix as the music evolves from juke joints and jazz clubs to reggae nights, carnival and pirate radio.
From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026
They appeared on panels moderated by celebrity boosters such as Austin Butler and Denzel Washington, and mingled at a Los Angeles supper club that got turned into the juke joint from the movie.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026
The film unfolds during the opening of a Mississippi juke joint in 1932.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026
“They had more fighting in a juke joint outside of Fort Eustis than I seen all the time I been over here.”
From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers
O.J. did as O.J. was famous for doing, and juked.
From New York Times ● Apr. 12, 2024
Four plays later, Alabama running back Jalen McClellan hit a wide-open hole and juked Michigan’s Mike Sainristil for a 34-yard touchdown run to put the Crimson Tide up 7-0.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2024
In his best play of the season, Hemby evaded one defender, then juked another as he took the ball 61 yards to the 2.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 30, 2023
Colandrea brought them back two plays later with a mid-range pass to Malik Washington, who juked defenders and changed directions on a 63-yard pass play that made it 14-7.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 9, 2023
“Fellas,” TimeStar began, then he juked left, grabbing his device from Petey and bolting for the door.
From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles
The result is something like shuffling, juking bas-reliefs or ghosts.
From New York Times ● Feb. 3, 2024
When Kenneth Walker III wasn’t juking and dancing his way past defenders for 97 yards on 18 carries, Zach Charbonnet was running over them for 46 yards on nine carries.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 24, 2023
Boyd scored on a power play in the second period, juking his way around Vancouver defenseman Tyler Myers and slipping a shot between Demko’s pads.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 17, 2023
Irving skittered across the lane juking defenders on his way to 24 points, six rebounds and five assists.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 12, 2022
We joked a little more, I thought like regular American men, faking, dipping, juking.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
