twerk

American  

[twurk] / twɜrk /

verb (used without object)

1. to dance by thrusting or shaking the buttocks and hips while in a squatting or bent-over position, often to music originating in African American and Caribbean culture.

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verb (used with object)

1. to thrust or shake (the buttocks or hips) while in a squatting or bent-over position as part of a dance often done to music originating in African American and Caribbean culture.

noun

1. a dance or dance move involving thrusting or shaking the buttocks and hips while squatting or bent over, often done to music originating in African American and Caribbean culture.

Etymology

Origin of twerk

An Americanism first recorded in 1990–95; possibly an alteration of work, as in work it “to show off one's body through movement or posing”; may be related to the earlier (1820–30) sense “a twisting or jerking movement,” from tw(ist) ( def. ) + (j)erk ¹

Example Sentences

Unlike Santa, who ho-ho-hos his way through the holiday season, Grinches twerk and pout and scream in kids’ faces.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 25, 2025

There are also African dance and twerk yoga classes, and the Black American Music Series features performances every second Sunday of the month.

From New York Times • Feb. 5, 2023

Last year, in the heat of Covid, the Academy lost its darn mind and did the Oscars by making Glenn Close twerk in a train station.

From The Guardian • Mar. 27, 2022

Of those, other newbies include: aquafaba, beatdown, zomboid, twerk, sheeple, wayback, bokeh, botnet, emoji, facepalm, frowny, hivemind, puggle and nubber.

From BBC • Sep. 24, 2018

"I hardly realize it yet that you are my really truly coz," and she gave the girl's long, brown braids a familiar twerk.

From The Girl Scouts at Sea Crest Or, the Wig Wag Rescue by Garis, Lilian