boogie-woogie

noun

boo·​gie-woo·​gie ˌbu̇-gē-ˈwu̇-gē How to pronounce boogie-woogie (audio)
ˌbü-gē-ˈwü-gē
: a percussive style of playing blues on the piano characterized by a steady rhythmic ground bass of eighth notes in quadruple time and a series of improvised melodic variations

Examples of boogie-woogie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The duo performs arrangements of classics from the stride piano, ragtime, boogie-woogie and swing era traditions. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2024 Never mind that his dad played acoustic guitar, while A.J. rose to prominence as a virtuoso pianist who excelled in blues, jazz and boogie-woogie. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2023 Juke-joint blues, Southern soul, upbeat R&B, hardscrabble folk, boogie-woogie, country and Western, gospel, jazz, funk, surf, Tex Mex — it all got shaped and filtered through a widescreen rock ‘n’ roll lens. Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2023 Roger took piano lessons while growing up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and was soon laying down boogie-woogie numbers. Alex Williams, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2023 Pianist Taryn Donath shines whether playing boogie-woogie, jazz or blues. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2023 Ace harmonica player, guitarist, and singer Thomas leads his rootsy crew in an old-time tent show bash drawing on a range of influences from blues to gospel to boogie-woogie. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 June 2023 There are two parts to this concert: The dancers will perform first to boogie-woogie blues music by pianist Sue Palmer and her Motel Swing Orchestra. Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2023 Sun Records issued it twice, first by Mr. Emerson in 1955 and then two years later by rockabilly singer Billy Lee Riley, who turned the rollicking gospel rhythm into a pounding boogie-woogie. Terence McArdle, Washington Post, 2 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boogie-woogie.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boogie-woogie was in 1928

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Cite this Entry

“Boogie-woogie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boogie-woogie. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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