b-boying

noun

b-boy·​ing ˈbē-ˌbȯi-iŋ How to pronounce b-boying (audio)
variants or less commonly B-boying
: a style of hip-hop dance in which soloists perform acrobatic moves that often involve touching various parts of the body (such as the back or head) to the ground : breakdancing
… to this day, use of the term b-boying is seen as an indicator of authenticity … .Joseph G. Schloss
Kickstarted in the South Bronx as early as '72 … the global phenomenon we've come to appreciate as hip hop has many progenitors, each adding his or her own original spin to graffiti, deejaying, b-boying and emceeing.Rachael Carnes
Ian hopes to pursue dance in college and as a career, specifically showing interest in hip-hop and B-boying.Allison Bagley
In breakdancing or b-boying culture, the dance circle … is typically a competitive space wherein breakers take turns dancing in the middle while surrounded by onlookers.Imani Kai Johnson

Examples of b-boying in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But by the late-Seventies, the Samurais started B-boying. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'b-boying.' 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

B-boy + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of b-boying was in 1984

Dictionary Entries Near b-boying

Cite this Entry

“B-boying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/b-boying. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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