bon·go
ˈbäŋ-(ˌ)gō 
ˈbȯŋ-
plural bongos also bongoes
: one of a pair of small connected drums of different sizes and pitches played with the hands
plural bongo or bongos
: an African antelope (Tragelaphus eurycerus) that is chestnut red with narrow white vertical stripes and is found in forests from Sierra Leone to Kenya
Examples of bongo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Murray spent much of the show out of the spotlight playing bongos, cowbell, shakers and wind chimes while his band members sang and brought the heat with soulful guitar solos and funky sax.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Oct. 2025
Happy anniversary to that nude bongo-playing sesh.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
In a new ad for Pantalones Organic Tequila, McConaughey, 55, revisited his first and last run-in with Texas police on October 25, 1999, alongside his wife, Camila, when he was arrested in his home while playing bongo drums and smoking marijuana naked.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Hence Brando with his bongos, Day-Lewis with his cobbling.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The crowd then went absolutely bongos when newcomer Micah Parsons notched his first sack as a Packer in the closing minute.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
The Air Force is also seeking out 31 other vehicles, including sedans and bongo trucks, to similarly likely use as missile targets.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2025
Melancholic nylon guitars, murmuring bongos, and the distant cry of a trumpet create a vibe that sounds timeless — the magic is undeniable.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 1 Aug. 2025
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Noun
The video cuts to Camila, who reads the report outloud as Matthew drums on the bongo and offers his commentary on the report.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Murray spent much of the show out of the spotlight playing bongos, cowbell, shakers and wind chimes while his band members sang and brought the heat with soulful guitar solos and funky sax.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Oct. 2025
Happy anniversary to that nude bongo-playing sesh.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
In a new ad for Pantalones Organic Tequila, McConaughey, 55, revisited his first and last run-in with Texas police on October 25, 1999, alongside his wife, Camila, when he was arrested in his home while playing bongo drums and smoking marijuana naked.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Hence Brando with his bongos, Day-Lewis with his cobbling.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The crowd then went absolutely bongos when newcomer Micah Parsons notched his first sack as a Packer in the closing minute.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
The Air Force is also seeking out 31 other vehicles, including sedans and bongo trucks, to similarly likely use as missile targets.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2025
Melancholic nylon guitars, murmuring bongos, and the distant cry of a trumpet create a vibe that sounds timeless — the magic is undeniable.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bongo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bongo. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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