noun

jive

JYV

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."

Nonsense or empty, misleading talk.

"Cut the jive and tell me what actually happened."

"His excuse was just a bunch of jive."

verb

To deceive or talk misleadingly.

"Don't jive me — I know you were there."

To fit or agree with something.

"That explanation doesn't jive with what she told me earlier."

How to Use Jive

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a style of swing dance/music, or slang for nonsense talk or deception.

Common mistake

Don't confuse this sense of "jive" (nonsense, or agree with) with "jibe," which more traditionally means "to be consistent with" — many writers use them interchangeably today, but careful style guides keep them separate.

Easily confused with

jibe

Common pairings

talk jive doesn't jive with

Word Forms

jived past tense, jived past tense, jives plural, jives singular, jives singular

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Fill the Gap

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The band struck up a _____ number and the floor filled instantly.

Etymology

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

Rhymes for jive

Ive five give dive live hive vive olive drive alive waive naive

See all rhymes for jive →