samba

[sam-buh, sahm-] / ˈsæm bə, ˈsɑm- /

NOUN

dance

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disco tango waltz

STRONG

Charleston boogie conga foxtrot frolic hop hustle jig jitter jitterbug jive jump leap one-step promenade rhumba spin step swing tap twist two-step

WEAK

boogie down bunny hop cut a rug foot it get down rock n' roll trip the light fantastic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rio de Janeiro's annual carnival parade competition continued its tradition of vibrant dance and colour, with samba school Viradouro taking the crown for its tribute to its legendary drum director.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

Paulinha Peixoto, 39, who leads the samba dancers, known for striking outfits and dizzying footwork, said putting on a show was "a team effort".

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

Back in the actual 1990s, ice dancers cycled through traditional dances: samba, blues, polka, rumba, quickstep, tango, jive, paso doble, Viennese waltz.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

This contribution is part of a budget that benefits all 12 of the samba schools taking part in the main parade equally.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

At the Pacific Rim Championships in April 2016, I debuted a brand-new, upgraded floor routine set to fast, upbeat samba music that I thought would go over well with the crowd in Rio.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Vocabulary lists containing samba

South America - Middle School

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

South America - Introductory

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

South America - High School

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!