What does "moonwalk" mean?
An exploration of the Moon's surface on foot by an astronaut.
Moonwalk
/ˈmunwɔk/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An exploration of the Moon's surface on foot by an astronaut.
- Grammar: moonwalk is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: dance move, glide, lunar eva, lunar traverse.
- Useful contrasts: immobility, immobility on surface, normal gait.
- Usage evidence: He created an iconic, angular style of dance that incorporated pantomime techniques, lightning-fast changes, and his signature "moonwalk."
How to use "moonwalk"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "moonwalk" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "moonwalk" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "moonwalk" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "moonwalk" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "moonwalk" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "dance move" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "moonwalk", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An exploration of the Moon's surface on foot by an astronaut.
- 2 an exploratory walk by an astronaut on the surface of the moon wordnet
- 3 Activity on the Moon, outside any moonbase, exposed to space, by an astronaut broadly
- 4 a kind of dance step in which the dancer seems to be sliding on the spot wordnet
- 5 A dance move in which the dancer slides backwards though the feet move as if walking forwards; the backslide.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A dance style in which the dancer appears to be moving in a low gravity environment.
"Though the idea of placing wacky made-up characters in a real-life context was carried over from Da Ali G Show—wherein Buzz Aldrin was once asked if he was upset that Michael Jackson got all the credit for inventing the moonwalk—Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat felt like something new, an attempt to square an improvised, guerrilla style of underground comedy with reality-TV stunt shows like Jackass or Fear Factor."
Verb
- 1 To walk on the surface of the Moon. intransitive
- 2 To walk in leaps, like on the Moon or on other low gravity surfaces. intransitive
- 3 To perform the moonwalk. intransitive
- 4 To walk in a manner that is similar to the moonwalk dance style; to move while sliding backwards as though the feet move as if one was walking forwards. intransitive
"Alicent’s crew intercede and try to grab the prince for themselves, Aemond restraining his fleeing brother while Criston crosses swords with Cargyll 1. That’s when Cargyll 2 moonwalks away, realizing that he wants no part of this royal shitshow."
Proper Noun
- 1 A barangay of Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"He created an iconic, angular style of dance that incorporated pantomime techniques, lightning-fast changes, and his signature "moonwalk.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "moonwalk"?
Common synonyms include: dance move, glide, lunar eva, lunar traverse, lunar walk, slide.
How do you use "moonwalk" in a sentence?
He created an iconic, angular style of dance that incorporated pantomime techniques, lightning-fast changes, and his signature "moonwalk."
How do you pronounce "moonwalk"?
Pronounced /ˈmunwɔk/.
Etymology
From Moon + walk. * (backslide): Coined by Michael Jackson in 1983, when popularizing the backslide and renaming it.