oompah
Americannoun
adjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of oompah
First recorded in 1875–80; imitative
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.
Two years ago at the Euros he arrived in Scotland's training centre in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and did a Bavarian dance called the schuhplattler at the welcoming ceremony, Tyrolean hat on his head, oompah music playing.
From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026
Revellers sit at long communal tables to swig beer, eat sausages, pretzel or pork knuckle, and listen to oompah bands.
From Reuters ● Apr. 29, 2022
Can he coax an orchestra to support a singer in a deceptively simple aria with a bare oompah accompaniment?
From New York Times ● Apr. 18, 2021
FRI-SUN Authentic München-style Oktoberfest Biergarten with imported German beers and local craft favorites, food, live oompah music and DJs, keg rolling, stein hoisting, wiener-dog racing, 4-11 p.m.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 19, 2019
On top of this accompanying oompah the rag pianists wove a catchy tune that pulled the rhythm around, a technique called syncopation.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
