moonwalk
Americannoun
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an exploratory walk by an astronaut on the surface of the moon.
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a dance move in which the dancer appears to slide backwards involuntarily while making the motions of walking forward, an illusion achieved by rising onto the ball of one foot, which bears the weight, while sliding the other foot backwards in a flat position, and alternating this step between feet.
verb (used without object)
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(of an astronaut) to walk on the surface of the moon.
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to perform the moonwalk dance move.
Other Word Forms
- moonwalker noun
Etymology
Origin of moonwalk
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.
After roughly 85 years of television in American homes, viewers have collectively shared historical triumphs and unthinkable tragedies, from Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk in 1969 to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026
The tires on my 2002 Grand Am had fresher treads than a moonwalk joke does today.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2024
Memorabilia belonging to Jackson has previously sold for thousands, including a black fedora hat that he wore just before performing his famous moonwalk dance for the first time in 1983.
From BBC • Nov. 10, 2023
I decided to ham it up, doing my best Michael Jackson moonwalk, pumicing my bare feet as I dragged them awkwardly across concrete.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2023
He does a moonwalk that’s worse than anything Trey’s ever attempted.
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
