twerk

[twurk]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

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.

verb (used with object)

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

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.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of twerk¹

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

African dancers surround Sammie, while women twerk and men Crip dance in different sections of the dancefloor.

From

Music blasts, and users chat over each other, as a woman turns her camera on to twerk or pose provocatively.

From

Before filming “Anora,” she learned how to twerk.

From

First, the women must alternate weeks, giving Sue only seven days to twerk before ceding her consciousness back to Elisabeth, who then must trust herself — and her other self — to continue trading the baton, or else.

From

As the Latin trap anthem “Singamo” rings over the speakers at the Echo in Echo Park, more than 50 people sing along and twerk on stage.

From

'twere twerp

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