samba

noun

sam·​ba ˈsam-bə How to pronounce samba (audio) ˈsäm- How to pronounce samba (audio)
: a Brazilian dance of African origin with a basic pattern of step-close-step-close and characterized by a dip and spring upward at each beat of the music
also : the music for this dance
samba intransitive verb

Examples of samba in a Sentence

The band played a samba.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Visit Rua do Ouvidor, a historic street downtown, for live samba on Saturdays, or head to Blue Note Rio for jazz. Carolina Abbott Galvão, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025 Discover the rhythms from West Africa to the soulful baladi of Egypt or the exciting sounds of samba from Brazil. Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025 The samba rolls were some of the most beautiful. Lynette Rice, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025 The routine showcased Leavitt’s sharp musicality and Ballas’s signature choreography, blending traditional samba bounce with bold, contemporary flair. Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for samba

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of samba was in 1885

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Cite this Entry

“Samba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/samba. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

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