moonwalk
Americannoun
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an exploratory walk by an astronaut on the surface of the moon.
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a dance move in which the dancer appears to slide backwards involuntarily while making the motions of walking forward, an illusion achieved by rising onto the ball of one foot, which bears the weight, while sliding the other foot backwards in a flat position, and alternating this step between feet.
verb (used without object)
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(of an astronaut) to walk on the surface of the moon.
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to perform the moonwalk dance move.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of moonwalk
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.
Michael Jackson showed off his signature move, the moonwalk, on television in 1983, skimming backwards across the stage to his No. 1 hit “Billie Jean.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026
Jaafar is lit up with Michael’s gleaming eyes and smile and he can moonwalk.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
The surprise moonwalk was all down to Betty's neighbour, artist Deby McKnight.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
I decided to ham it up, doing my best Michael Jackson moonwalk, pumicing my bare feet as I dragged them awkwardly across concrete.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2023
They’re jamming like nobody’s business, forcing me to two-step, spin, and moonwalk my way to the plantain tent.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
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.
