waltz

American  

[wawlts] / wɔlts /

noun

• waltzes
  plural

1. a ballroom dance, in moderately fast triple meter, in which the dancers revolve in perpetual circles, taking one step to each beat.

2. a piece of music for, or in the rhythm of, this dance.

3. Informal. an easy victory or accomplishment.

   The game was a waltz—we won by four touchdowns. The math exam was a waltz.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the waltz, as music, rhythm, or dance.

   waltz tempo.

verb (used without object)

• waltzes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• waltzed,
  past participle,  past
• waltzing
  present participle

1. to dance or move in a waltz step or rhythm.

   an invitation to waltz.

2. Informal.

   1. to move breezily or casually.

      to waltz in late for dinner.

   2. to progress easily or successfully (often followed bythrough ).

      to waltz through an exam.

verb (used with object)

• waltzes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• waltzed,
  past participle,  past
• waltzing
  present participle

1. to lead (a partner) in dancing a waltz.

2. Informal. to move or lead briskly and easily.

   He waltzed us right into the governor's office.

3. to fill (a period of time) with waltzing (often followed by away, through, etc.).

   They waltzed the night away.

waltz British  

/ wɔːls /

noun

1. a ballroom dance in triple time in which couples spin around as they progress round the room

2. a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

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verb

1. to dance or lead (someone) in or as in a waltz

   he waltzed her off her feet

2. (intr) to move in a sprightly and self-assured manner

3. informal (intr) to succeed easily

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• waltzer
  noun
• waltzlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• waltzes
  plural

Participles

• waltzing
  present
• waltzed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• waltz
  simple
• waltzes
  simple
• have waltzed
  perfect
• has waltzed
  perfect
• am waltzing
  progressive
• are waltzing
  progressive
• is waltzing
  progressive
• have been waltzing
  perfect progressive
• has been waltzing
  perfect progressive

Past

• waltzed
  simple
• had waltzed
  perfect
• was waltzing
  progressive
• were waltzing
  progressive
• had been waltzing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will waltz
  simple
• will have waltzed
  perfect
• will be waltzing
  progressive
• will have been waltzing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of waltz

1775–85; back formation from German Walzer a waltz (taken as walz + -er ¹ ), derivative of walzen to roll, dance; compare obsolete English walt unsteady, dial. walter to roll

Explanation

A dance in which two dancers move in triple time as they turn together in circles is called a waltz, and it's also the name of music that's written for that sort of dance. If you aspire to be a competitive ballroom dancer, you'll need to master the waltz. Waltz is also a verb, so couples may waltz around the ballroom while the band plays a waltz. When you waltz, you face your dance partner with one hand on their waist or shoulder and the other clasping their hand. The two of you move in a gliding spin. It its earliest days, the waltz was considered a bit shocking—previous dances were "open," with couples side by side, rather than "closed," with dancers facing each other.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

waltz waltzes waltzed waltzing

My stomach was in knots as I pictured myself clad in a lemon chiffon dress looking like a dollop of meringue, doing the Viennese waltz — something resembling a Centrum Silver commercial.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

And wow did they waltz right through that open door.

From Slate ● May 23, 2026

I don’t know any woman who doesn’t live some version of this life, locked in a sentimental, twisted waltz with the difficult woman who raised her.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

For their first dance, they had practised a traditional waltz.

From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2026

“All three of ’em’ll probably waltz in on you any minute.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

Throughout, it’s an elegant work, drifting from slow-burning waltzes to atmospheric explorations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2025

Wallace soon waltzes into the room to take over, having accessorised his usual clothes with a larger-than-life sparkling red bow tie.

From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2024

No wonder Woodward is still writing all these books; the guy’s just trying to enjoy his canapés, and the country’s top military officer waltzes over to share choice content like this.

From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2024

It waltzes right indoors, and right to the shiny refreshed kitchen and new family room, where it meets its dazzling friend teal.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 20, 2023

When she listened to the waltzes of Pietro Crespi she felt the same desire to weep that she had had in adolescence, as if time and harsh lessons had meant nothing.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Brocklebank powered over from close range for his first ever Prem try but Scotland international Jordan waltzed through a gap in the Red Bulls defence minutes after.

From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026

Rayo Vallecano waltzed to a 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga, leaving Diego Simeone's side 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid.

From Barron's ● Feb. 15, 2026

Jennifer Coolidge waltzed by in bare feet, frequently stopping so fans could take selfies with her.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2025

Back in March, however, security staff waltzed in and confiscated four standalone PCs that were networked to an inkjet printer, one after another, leaving us with typewriters to type our legal work.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2024

As I headed toward the line, a girl from my class named Audrey Mitchell waltzed right up to me and said, “Nice boots.”

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor

Likewise, in a town just north of Manchester, fans queued up to see their own waltzing, weaving wizard in Jay-Jay Okocha, who became the face of Sam Allardyce's Bolton Wanderers revolution.

From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026

The iconic president’s son failed the New York bar exam twice and co-founded George magazine, a glossy devoted to waltzing at the intersection of politics and popular people.

From Salon ● Feb. 12, 2026

The Tennessee Titans trailed the Arizona Cardinals 21-3 at one point, and the deficit was about to get even bigger when running back Emari Demercado was waltzing toward the end zone for a 71-yard score.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2025

Not long after he’d stopped Alex Ovechkin’s one-timer off an odd-man rush, Daccord found himself staring at McMichael waltzing in alone following a Justin Schultz giveaway.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 11, 2024

First they scratched out a ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three beat, as one might do when waltzing.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood