breakbeat

noun

break·​beat ˈbrāk-ˌbēt How to pronounce breakbeat (audio)
variants or break beat
: a repetitive drum pattern in hip-hop and dance music
also : music based on breakbeats

Examples of breakbeat in a Sentence

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.
The track, as yet untitled, rides a drum-and-bass-style breakbeat that could best be described as filthy. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

break entry 2 (solo musical passage)

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of breakbeat was in 1985

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Breakbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakbeat. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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