jazz

1 of 2

noun

often attributive
1
a
: American music developed especially from ragtime and blues and characterized by propulsive syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, and often deliberate distortions of pitch and timbre
b
: popular dance music influenced by jazz and played in a loud rhythmic manner
2
: similar but unspecified things : stuff
that wind, and the waves, and all that jazzJohn Updike
3
: empty talk : humbug
spouted all the scientific jazzPete Martin
jazzlike adjective

jazz

2 of 2

verb

jazzed; jazzing; jazzes

transitive verb

1
a
: enliven
usually used with up
2
: to play in the manner of jazz

intransitive verb

1
: to go here and there : gad
2
: to dance to or play jazz

Examples of jazz in a Sentence

Noun What's all this jazz about you leaving? She loves hiking, biking, and all that jazz.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Rounding out his quartet are some of Chicago’s rising jazz stars, including trumpeter Corey Wilkes, keyboardist Justin Dillard, and multi-reedist Isaiah Collier, all of whom Kahil has mentored over the years. Shannon J. Effinger, SPIN, 13 Mar. 2024 Her father, Louis, was a professional jazz drummer who was given to rages. Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 An elliptical expression of Black life, jazz refuses to be decoded as such. Maya Binyam, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Debra David, for instance, has spent her whole life on family land in Hamlet, the Richmond County town of 6,000 best known as the birthplace of jazz legend John Coltrane. Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Mar. 2024 Beard worked alongside such jazz legends as Wayne Shorter, Pat Metheny and John McLaughlin and recorded with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, The Brecker Brothers, Dianne Reeves, Meshell Ndegeocello and Steve Vai during his career. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Throughout his career, the musician was highly regarded for his work collaborating with jazz legends such as Wayne Shorter and John McLaughlin, among others. Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 This season’s concerts will span the gamut of musical styles, from popular symphonic classics and music from the Great American Songbook to jazz, Broadway, rock ‘n’ roll and cinematic favorites that have defined American pop culture. The Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2024 In what can only be described as an internet ouroboros, a 15-second TikTok featuring a bowl of strawberries covered in goopy chocolate, set to smooth jazz, has amassed nearly 42 million likes and 323 million views to date. Antara Sinha, Bon Appétit, 1 Mar. 2024
Verb
Live Nation, Beverly Hills SESAC Grammy Nominee Celebration SESAC will shine the spotlight on their clients’ nominations across various categories, from dance/electronic and R&B to jazz, Latin, and global music. Thania Garcia, Variety, 29 Jan. 2024 The United States is quickly approaching a presidential election that no one is jazzed about. Megan Thiele Strong, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024 Gilbert Castellanos jazzed to return to trumpet after groundbreaking dental breakthroughs saved his career Jan. 17, 2021 Castellanos, 50, is the San Diego Symphony’s jazz curator and the founder of the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023 Jaa jazzes things up a bit and when this film briefly flirts with becoming a martial-arts movie, there’s a spark of genuine potential. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2023 Morris, winner of two Southland Conference titles in four years at Incarnate Word, should keep the offense jazzed. Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 1 Sep. 2023 Pricing and Which One to Buy Acura offers the RDX in one trim but provides several distinct packages to jazz it up. Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 31 Aug. 2023 Not everyone was jazzed about the cutting-edge carpet. Philip Anloague, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2023 The Biden administration has arguably been just as jazzed about carbon removal as tech companies have. Justine Calma, The Verge, 12 Sep. 2023

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

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1914, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of jazz was in 1913

Dictionary Entries Near jazz

Cite this Entry

“Jazz.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jazz. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

jazz

1 of 2 noun
1
: American music marked by lively rhythms with unusual accents and often by melodies made up by musicians as they play
2
: empty talk
don't give me any of that jazz
3
: similar but unspecified things : stuff

jazz

2 of 2 verb
1
: enliven
usually used with up
2
: to play in the manner of jazz

More from Merriam-Webster on jazz

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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