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

The Raunchiest Miley Cyrus shocked viewers by stripping down to a nude bikini top and briefs and grinding, twerking and thrusting on fellow performer Robin Thicke at the 2013 show in one of the raciest performances in MTV history. — Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026

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

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