How to use emo in a sentence

19 example sentences · noun, adjective

Emo means a subgenre of late 1980s hardcore punk originating in Washington D.C., characterized by intense, highly emotional performances, dynamic shifts, and a departure from traditional punk song structures (also emocore). Example: “She got into the emo scene at an early age.”

Examples of emo by meaning

adjectiveAssociated with youth subcultures which are associated with the above-mentioned musical genre(s) and with emotional...

The one thing everyone agrees on is that they've never encountered a band that claimed to be emo.2007, James A. Reinking, Robert Von Der Osten, Strategies for successful writing
Trevor looks kind of emo, rail thin, dark hair, guyliner, wears black all the time.2012, Megan Bostic, Never Eighteen

adjectiveDepressed.

Criticism drapes a black velvet cape across the puddle that interrupts the path to change, to be emo about it.2008, Vanity Fair, number 578

adjectiveExhibiting a fashion or visual aesthetic associated with the subculture; a presentation deliberately or unintentionally...

Hot Topic is historically recognized as the go-to mall emo store, particularly during the 2000s, serving as a primary hub for alternative, scene, and punk fashion, music merch, and accessories like studded belts.

More sentences with emo

She got into the emo scene at an early age.From the entry scene
The three bands that make up the emo trinity are My Chemical Romance, Panic!2026 February 3, Leah Smith, “Why My Chemical Romance is the best of “the emo trinity””, in The Beacon. From the entry emo trinity
We cannot forget to mention the Holy Spirit in the emo trinity, My Chemical Romance.2022 January 20, Isabel Carrasco, “Make America Emo Again: The story behind legendary bands of the early 2000s”, in Cultura Colectiva. From the entry emo trinity
There was an exciting proliferation of punk rap, mumble rap, emo rap and trap-influenced SoundCloud artists.2020, Adrian Besley, Billie Eilish: From e-girl to Icon, Michael O'Mara Books, →ISBN. From the entry mumble rap
Emos, or neogoths, or whatever they were calling themselves these days.2012, Emmie Dark, In His Eyes, page 21. From the entry neogoth
Stark blacks, whites and reds, alongside inky, sketchy lineart, the popularity of nu metal and emo kept Mall Gothic alive for all of the 00s.2020 August 6, @KaiserBeamz, Twitter, archived from the original on 02 Mar 2024. From the entry whimsigoth
If indie punk, pop-punk, post-punk, and emo happen to be your bag, this early-week show at Paper Tiger is gonna be lit.2018 July 4, James Courtney, “Music Picks”, in San Antonio Current, page 39. From the entry lit
He was supercute, with emo bangs over one eye and a hint of guyliner that would've sent my heart aflutter not too long ago.2011, Megan Hart, Collide, Spice Books, →ISBN. From the entry emo bangs
In the ever-changing landscape of music, that's given way to such genres as emo, screamo, nu metal and Nintendocore, one question remains!2010 May, Jake Brown, Alice in Chains: In the Studio, Nashville, Tenn.: Rock ’N’ Roll Books, →ISBN. From the entry Nintendocore
“Students here cover a spectrum,” muses a senior, including “preppy pop-collars, hardcore hippies, emo punk rockers, jocks, semi-goths, and Dungeons & Dragoners.”2008, Edward B. Fiske, Robert Logue, the Fiske Guide to Colleges staff, Fiske Guide to Colleges 2008, twenty-fourth edition, Naperville…. From the entry Dungeons & Dragoner
While Carrabba doesn't fit the stereotype of the bespectacled, becardiganed emo boy--he looks rather like a rockabilly refugee--his personal history reflects that of his fans.2004 January 30, Bob Mehr, “Navel-Gazing Nation”, in Chicago Reader. From the entry becardiganed
Born in the digital twilight of MySpace, Facebook, and DeviantArt, Welwitschia Goth tapped into the emo and goths yearning for something both creepy and beautiful at the same time.2025 August 20, Sterling Rhyn, “25+ Welwitschia Goth (whimsical emo) Crochet Patterns to Make”, in Cactus Lady Creation, archived from the…. From the entry Welwitschia Goth
Tinged with punk rock guitar blare often slowed down to midtempos, Death Cab appealed to the insular yet viral emo scene, as well as the broader indie-rock world.2008 May 18, R J Smith, “Death Cab Is Up for the Long Haul”, in New York Times. From the entry midtempo
Williams knows that the least essential thing about emo is its emoness, so she plays down the emotional turmoil to focus on energy and kicks instead.2008, 21st Century Music, volume 15, numbers 1-6, page 7. From the entry emoness
If you like emo, your chances are good that this Karate will deliver that kick to the heart that emokids so desire and musicphiles lust after.2002 September, Kiera Ormut-Fleishman, “Spittin' in my eye”, in The Innis Herald, Innis College, Toronto, ON, page 4. From the entry emokid

Meaning of emo

noun A subgenre of late 1980s hardcore punk originating in Washington D.C., characterized by intense, highly emotional performances, dynamic shifts, and a departure from traditional punk song structures (also emocore).
noun A 1990s indie rock movement characterized by complex guitar work (often borrowing from math rock), dynamic shifts, arpeggiated melodies, and deeply introspective lyrics; commonly referred to as Midwest emo.
noun A commercially successful 2000s alternative rock and pop-punk movement characterized by theatricality, melancholic, or romantically frustrated themes, and highly polished production.

Full definition of emo

Questions about emo in a sentence

How do you use emo in a sentence?: Emo is used as a noun and adjective. For example: “She got into the emo scene at an early age.”
What is a short sentence with emo?: “She got into the emo scene at an early age.”
What does emo mean?: Emo means a subgenre of late 1980s hardcore punk originating in Washington D.C., characterized by intense, highly emotional performances, dynamic shifts, and a departure from traditional punk song structures (also emocore).

Adapted from Wiktionary: emo (page history and authors) and the entries each sentence comes from. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws chose the sentences, left out offensive ones and quotations older than 1900, and marked the word in each. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Cite this page: “How to use emo in a sentence.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/sentences/emo. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.