waltz

American  

[wawlts] / wɔlts /

noun

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)

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)

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

• waltzer
  noun
• waltzlike
  adjective

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

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

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Snyder envisioned his song as a waltz, but apart from the three 1923 recordings, no one performed it that way.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

By making the waltz a unifying element in an opera about a courtesan, Verdi accomplished both.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

"Home was a happy place. Daddy taught me how to waltz by standing me on his feet, and we would have waltzed around the living room," she said.

From BBC • Jan. 4, 2026

Thunderous applause explodes from the big top, and the band slides seamlessly into the Gounod waltz.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen