samba

noun

sam·​ba ˈsam-bə How to pronounce samba (audio) ˈsäm- How to pronounce samba (audio)
: a Brazilian dance of African origin with a basic pattern of step-close-step-close and characterized by a dip and spring upward at each beat of the music
also : the music for this dance
samba intransitive verb

Examples of samba in a Sentence

The band played a samba.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When Madlib led him out of the hotel room in São Paulo, all the samba schools were training rigorously for the Carnival. — Harry Levin, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 There was a samba feel to the Old Trafford dressing room at the time, and Rodrigo Possebon also arrived in 2008. — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 16 July 2026 Brazil may be enjoying samba music back home after its Sunday loss to Norway, but the World Cup must go on. — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026 Seleção fans essentially took over part of the American Dream mall next to MetLife Stadium and turned it into more of a Brazilian Carnival-like scene with samba dancers, drummers and fans parading down the shopping center. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for samba

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of samba was in 1885

Rhymes for samba

See All Rhymes for samba

Browse Nearby Words

Sama Veda
samba
sambal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Samba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/samba. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on samba

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about samba

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