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jive

4 synonyms for jive, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A lively swing dance, or the jazz/swing music it's danced to.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

swing music flummery

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A lively swing dance, or the jazz/swing music it's danced to.

“The band struck up a jive number and the floor filled instantly.”

swing swing music

2. noun

Nonsense or empty, misleading talk.

“Cut the jive and tell me what actually happened.”

How to use jive

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

talk jive doesn't jive with

Etymology

Origin uncertain; the word rose in African-American slang, possibly linked to gyve ("shackle") or a West African source meaning idle talk.

Full origin of jive →

Frequently asked questions

What does “jive” mean?
The word “jive” means a lively swing dance, or the jazz/swing music it's danced to. In plain terms, either a style of swing dance/music, or slang for nonsense talk or deception.
How do you pronounce “jive”?
“Jive” is pronounced JYV (/ˈd͡ʒaɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “jive” in a sentence?
Here is “jive” used in a sentence: “The band struck up a jive number and the floor filled instantly.”
What part of speech is “jive”?
Depending on how it is used, “jive” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “jive” have?
“Jive” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a lively swing dance, or the jazz/swing music it's danced to.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.