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:
Sadly, his background vocal is mixed low and seems like an afterthought, but it’s an affecting song nonetheless, conjuring images of truck stops and roadside juke joints.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 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
Michael B. Jordan’s identical twins Smoke and Stack have the “grown-men money” to purchase the property for their juke joint in full.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 16, 2026
The film unfolds during the opening of a Mississippi juke joint in 1932.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026
“I’m Lena, this my juke joint. Since you saw Sadie’s true form, you a Seer, an Unremarkable who can see the Remarkable.”
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
He immediately launched a pass downfield to Lemon, who juked two defenders out of their shoes on his way into the end zone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2025
O.J. did as O.J. was famous for doing, and juked.
From New York Times ● Apr. 12, 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
On his way to the end zone, Bland juked Young before scoring.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 19, 2023
He juked and jived and spun and danced and darted, and he left them squeezing handfuls of air.
From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli
Justin Herbert just kept running, juking and winning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2024
The result is something like shuffling, juking bas-reliefs or ghosts.
From New York Times ● Feb. 3, 2024
Irving skittered across the lane juking defenders on his way to 24 points, six rebounds and five assists.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 12, 2022
The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder succeeded with style — hurdling Husky safety Kamren Fabiculanan on a first down run, then juking colliding defenders Bralen Trice and Jaivion Green on a 2-yard touchdown strut.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 30, 2022
We joked a little more, I thought like regular American men, faking, dipping, juking.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
