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Showing results for samba. Search instead for sampa.
Definitions

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.

The performances are judged over 10 categories by a total of 40 judges, with the top 12 samba schools competing for the title.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

Rio's samba and carnival roots are deeply tied to poor, Afro-Brazilian neighborhoods, where community organizations known as samba schools evolved and work year round to make the show happen.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

Watching the rehearsal, Adriano Santos, a 43-year-old social worker from the Rocinha favela, said the samba school was "being brave, innovative."

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

During Carnival in February, Florianópolis has its own samba schools and parades.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

This includes older blended traditions such as rumba and samba, newer but well-established blended genres such as reggae and Afrobeat, and groups with unique experimental sounds borrowing from more than one tradition.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones