juke

¹ American  

[jook] / dʒuk /

verb (used with object)

juked, juking

1. to make a move intended to deceive (an opponent).

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noun

1. a fake or feint, usually intended to deceive a defensive player.

juke ² American  

[jook] / dʒuk /

noun

1. jukebox.

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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

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

The newbie nominee won the trophy out of the gate for his portrayal of twins Smoke and Stack in Ryan Coogler’s juke joint-and-vampires movie “Sinners.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

You have Arkapaw’s dynamic use of the 65-pound Imax camera and the indelible surreal musical scene in the juke joint.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

Delroy Lindo recently earned his first Academy Award nomination for his role in “Sinners” as Delta Slim, a blues musician who helps fight a vampire horde in a Mississippi juke joint.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 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

Related Words

• ditch
• duck
• elude
• escape
• evade
• fend off
• shuffle
• sidestep
• skirt