Word
vamp
US/ˈvæmp/
UK/vˈæmp/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a short, catchy part of a song that repeats to make it sound exciting. It is often used in pop or rock music to build up the energy before the main part of the song.
n. a short, repetitive musical passage or section designed to create a sense of anticipation or excitement. Common in popular and rock music to bridge the gap between the intro and the main verse.
Examples
“The song has a great vamp that gets you moving.”
“The band spent several minutes on stage playing a hypnotic vamp before finally launching into the first verse.”
“While the lyrics are relatively simple, the instrumental vamp provides a rhythmic foundation that allows the lead vocalist to experiment with vocal improvisation.”
Examples
simple
“The song has a great vamp that gets you moving.”
contextual
“The band spent several minutes on stage playing a hypnotic vamp before finally launching into the first verse.”
complex
“While the lyrics are relatively simple, the instrumental vamp provides a rhythmic foundation that allows the lead vocalist to experiment with vocal improvisation.”
Real-World Examples
“I was like, ‘I’m not gonna be able to say that in 30 seconds,’ so I went up and sort of vamped, and made fun of it.”
It turned out he was funny.” Etymology
From Middle English vaumpe, vaum-pei, vampe (“covering for the foot, perhaps a slipper or understocking; upper of a boot or shoe”), or from Anglo-Norman vampe, *vaumpé (“part of a stocking covering the top of the foot”), from Old French avantpied, avantpiet, variants of avantpié, from avant (“in front”) + pié (“foot”). Noun senses 2 and 3 (“a patch; something patched up or improvised”) appear to have been extended from sense 1 (“top part of a boot or shoe”). Sense 4 (“repeated and often improvised musical accompaniment”) was probably derived from sense 3, and sense 5 (“activity to fill or stall for time”) from sense 4. The verb senses were derived from the noun. Compare also Middle English vaum-peien (“(uncertain) to repair (footwear) with a new upper or vamp; to fabricate an upper or vamp”).
Clipping of vampire. From a character type developed first for silent film, notably for Theda Bara's role in the 1915 film A Fool There Was. The verb is derived from the noun.
Uncertain; possibly related to vamp (etymology 1, above): see the 2008 quotation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/vamp