stomp

American  

[stomp] / stɒmp /

verb (used with object)

1. stamp.

---

verb (used without object)

1. stamp.

2. to dance the stomp.

noun

1. stamp.

2. a jazz composition, especially in early jazz, marked by a driving rhythm and a fast tempo.

3. a dance to this music, usually marked by heavy stamping of the feet.

stomp British  

/ stɒmp /

verb

1. informal to tread or stamp heavily

---

noun

1. a rhythmic stamping jazz dance

Other Word Forms

• stomper
  noun

Etymology

Origin of stomp

First recorded in 1820–30; variant of stamp

Explanation

When you stomp, you thud your feet down heavily as you walk. An angry teenager might stomp down the hall and slam the door to his room. A little boy in big cowboy boots might stomp around the house enjoying the sound of his heels against the floor, and an awkward marching band could stomp heavily down the street playing the theme from "Rocky." You can also use the word stomp to describe a specific kind of stamping dance. This meaning has been around since about 1912, from popular jazz slang. The earlier stomp was simply a variation on the word stamp.

Example Sentences

The new record appeared to be following suit, with The Daily Telegraph's chief music critic Neil McCormick saying the band were "back with a pile-driving blues stomp".

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Ones who’d stomp their feet above my bedroom at odd hours of the night or who’d block my parking garage without warning every time they had guests over.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

Unless you stomp on the accelerator, it initially moves out on electric power and the gas engine soon joins in, sending a subtle, snoozy tremor through the structure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

Martin’s current fixation is muscling New Yorkers out of affordable housing to stomp a permanent boot print onto Manhattan.

From Salon • Nov. 19, 2025

Now I watched her gather up more bricks and stomp back toward her ladder.

From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore