# groove

/ˈɡɹuv/ (US) · /ɡɹˈuːv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/groove
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a physical cut

noun · CEFR B2

a long, narrow cut or line in a hard surface like wood or metal.

For teachers: a long, narrow channel or depression cut into a hard material, often to guide a moving part.

- The sliding door moves along a small groove in the floor.
- The carpenter carefully carved a groove into the side of the cabinet to allow the back panel to slide into place securely.

### 2. a routine

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a habit or a way of doing things that you have become used to.

For teachers: a settled or fixed routine of life or action.

- After a few days back at work, I finally got back into my groove.
- It took the team several weeks to find their groove, but once they established a workflow, productivity increased significantly.

### 3. musical rhythm

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a strong, enjoyable rhythm in music that makes you want to dance.

For teachers: a pronounced, infectious rhythm in music, particularly in jazz, funk, or soul.

- The drummer started a funky groove that the whole band followed.
- The bassist and drummer locked into a tight groove, providing a solid foundation for the soloist to explore more complex melodies.

### 4. to enjoy music

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to dance to or enjoy music with a good rhythm.

For teachers: to dance to or enjoy rhythmic music in a relaxed and focused manner.

- Everyone was grooving to the music at the party last night.
- The audience spent the entire evening grooving to the classic soul records, creating an atmosphere of shared nostalgia and joy.

## Examples

- The sliding door fits into a narrow groove in the floor.
- The needle follows the groove on the record to play the music clearly.
- Once the drummer established a steady groove, the rest of the band relaxed into the performance, allowing for more experimental solos during the bridge.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.