breakbeat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Specialist / Informal
Quick answer
What does “breakbeat” mean?
A rhythm or drum pattern, often sampled, characterized by a syncopated, heavily percussive feel, serving as the rhythmic foundation for genres like hip-hop, jungle, and drum and bass.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A rhythm or drum pattern, often sampled, characterized by a syncopated, heavily percussive feel, serving as the rhythmic foundation for genres like hip-hop, jungle, and drum and bass.
A genre of electronic music that evolved from the sampling and manipulation of funk and soul drum breaks, or any piece of music within this genre.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in both dialects, but its cultural association is stronger in the UK due to the central role of breakbeat-driven genres (jungle, drum and bass, big beat) in British dance music history.
Connotations
In the UK, strongly connotes 1990s rave culture and specific UK-born genres. In the US, may have stronger initial connotations with early hip-hop and the 'Amen break' before broadening.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English within music journalism, club culture, and radio programming dedicated to electronic music.
Grammar
How to Use “breakbeat” in a Sentence
[Genre] with a [adjective] breakbeatThe track is built around a [sampled/classic] breakbeat.to [sample/loop/cut] a breakbeatVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “breakbeat” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The Amen breakbeat is arguably the most sampled loop in history.
- That new track has a absolutely savage breakbeat.
American English
- Hip-hop was built on the foundation of the breakbeat.
- The producer spent hours chopping up the breakbeat.
adverb
British English
- This is not used; 'breakbeat' does not function as an adverb.
American English
- This is not used; 'breakbeat' does not function as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The breakbeat scene in Bristol is still thriving.
- It's a breakbeat anthem from the late '90s.
American English
- She's a talented breakbeat DJ.
- The festival has a dedicated breakbeat stage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in music industry contexts discussing genre trends, festival line-ups, or record labels.
Academic
Found in ethnomusicology, popular music studies, and cultural studies discussing sampling, appropriation, and electronic music history.
Everyday
Rare in general conversation unless discussing specific music tastes.
Technical
Core term in music production, DJing, and audio sampling, referring to specific rhythmic structures and their manipulation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “breakbeat”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “breakbeat”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “breakbeat”
- Using 'breakbeat' to refer to any drum pattern in electronic music (it specifically implies a sampled or stylistically derived syncopated pattern).
- Spelling as two separate words: 'break beat' (while historically valid, the closed compound is now standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Breakbeat' refers to a musical rhythm. 'Breakdance' (or 'breaking') is a style of street dance that developed to those rhythms. They are related culturally but are different concepts.
Yes, a drummer can play a pattern that is stylistically a breakbeat. However, the term originated from and is most commonly associated with sampled, looped, or electronically reproduced versions of such drum patterns.
The 'Amen break', a six-second drum solo from The Winstons' 1969 song 'Amen, Brother', is arguably the most sampled and influential breakbeat in history, foundational to jungle and drum and bass.
The modern standard spelling is as one closed compound word: 'breakbeat'. You may see the older form 'break beat' in historical texts, but the single word is now correct.
A rhythm or drum pattern, often sampled, characterized by a syncopated, heavily percussive feel, serving as the rhythmic foundation for genres like hip-hop, jungle, and drum and bass.
Breakbeat is usually specialist / informal in register.
Breakbeat: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbreɪkbiːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbreɪkˌbit/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[He's] the king of breakbeat.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BEAT that BREAKs the predictable pattern of regular pop music—it's a BREAK from the normal BEAT.
Conceptual Metaphor
The breakbeat is the ENGINE / FOUNDATION of the track. (It drives and supports the musical structure.)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is MOST characteristic of a traditional breakbeat?