English Meaning & Definitions
To move with high, springy steps, often in an ostentatious, confident, or playful manner.
- “The show horse began to prance around the ring as the crowd cheered.”
- “The toddler pranced across the living room in her new fairy costume.”
A springy, high-stepping gait or walk.
- “With a playful prance, the puppy bounded toward the open door.”
- “The actor entered the stage with a confident prance that immediately captured the audience's attention.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “prance”.
Originating in the late 14th century, the word is of uncertain origin, likely a variant of the Middle English 'prancen' or 'prauncen'. It is possibly related to the Middle Dutch 'pronken' (to show off, parade), reflecting the flamboyant and rhythmic nature of the movement.
Think of a 'prancing pony'—the 'p' in prance stands for 'proud' and 'pony' movement.
Frequently Asked Questions About “prance”
1. What is the meaning of “prance” in English?
In English, prance (verb) is defined as: “To move with high, springy steps, often in an ostentatious, confident, or playful manner.”.
2. How do you use “prance” in a sentence?
“The show horse began to prance around the ring as the crowd cheered.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “prance”?
Originating in the late 14th century, the word is of uncertain origin, likely a variant of the Middle English 'prancen' or 'prauncen'. It is possibly related to the Middle Dutch 'pronken' (to show off, parade), reflecting the flamboyant and rhythmic nature of the movement.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.