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• tap dance
  tap dance

  noun

  a dance in which the rhythm or rhythmical variation is audibly tapped out with the toe or heel by a dancer wearing shoes with special hard soles or with taps.
• tap-dance
  tap-dance

  verb (used without object)

  to perform a tap dance.

tap dance

¹ American  

noun

tap dances plural

1. a dance in which the rhythm or rhythmical variation is audibly tapped out with the toe or heel by a dancer wearing shoes with special hard soles or with taps.

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tap-dance ² American  

[tap-dans, -dahns] / ˈtæpˌdæns, -ˌdɑns /

verb (used without object)

tap-danced, tap-dancing

1. to perform a tap dance.

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tap dance British  

noun

1. a step dance in which the performer wears shoes equipped with taps that make a rhythmic sound on the stage as he dances

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verb

1. to perform a tap dance

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• tap-dancer
  noun
• tap-dancing
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• tap dances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tap dance¹

Probably earlier than 1925–30

Origin of tap-dance²

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

There’s even a subset of manosphere influencers who are doing this tap dance with Islam.

From Salon • May 4, 2026

Arriving on stage in a sparkly tuxedo dress, she rearranged her hits Espresso and Please Please Please in a jazzy big band style, and even delivered a fleet-footed tap dance sequence.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2025

In the 1980s, this relationship between jazz music and tap dance began resurfacing in public ways across New York and Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2023

Bobo’s catch and tap dance were so jaw-dropping that officials initially ruled him out of bounds before Pete Carroll challenged the ruling.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 22, 2023

Ignoring the tap dance her heart was doing in her ears, she ducked quickly through the low security arch, past the guard post, and into the library.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older