twerking

noun

twerk·​ing ˈtwər-kiŋ 

: sexually suggestive dancing characterized by rapid, repeated hip thrusts and shaking of the buttocks especially while squatting

… twerking has become a catch-all for an overtly sexualized style of dancing wherein one manipulates the hips and posterior in an often hypnotic and physics-defying bounce.

—Luke O'Neil

twerk

ˈtwərk 

intransitive verb

twerked; twerking; twerks

As my family watched in horror, I began to twerk, crouching down and bouncing my booty …

—Libby Gelman-Waxner

Examples of twerking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His mostly silent performance was punctuated by sudden bouts of singing, vigorous twerking, and still more ridiculous dance moves, the most impressive being a full split on the blackjack table. —Miles Klee, Wired News, 7 May 2026

One video showed Lizzo blowing out her candles on a birthday cake before twerking, while pictures of another cake featured her album cover, depicting her as a middle finger. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026

Copeland represented modern ballet, while more dancers deployed twerking, breakdancing, Xiqu, Zaouli, and more. —Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2026

Even the twerking was beautifully choreographed. —Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

twerk, phonesthemic coinage, perhaps with elements of twist entry 1 and jerk entry 1

First Known Use

2001, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for twerking

• clerking
• jerking
• lurking
• shirking
• smirking
• working
• hardworking
• networking
• nonworking
• reworking
• woodworking
• interworking