dance
Americanverb (used without object)
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to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, especially to the accompaniment of music.
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to leap, skip, etc., as from excitement or emotion; move nimbly or quickly.
to dance with joy.
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to bob up and down.
The toy sailboats danced on the pond.
verb (used with object)
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to perform or take part in (a dance).
to dance a waltz.
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to cause to dance.
He danced her around the ballroom.
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to cause to be in a specified condition by dancing.
She danced her way to stardom.
noun
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a successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music.
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an act or round of dancing; set.
May I have this dance?
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the art of dancing.
to study dance.
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a social gathering or party for dancing; ball.
Was he invited to the dance?
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a piece of music suited in rhythm or style to a particular form of dancing.
He liked the composer's country dances.
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Animal Behavior. a stylized pattern of movements performed by an animal, as a bird in courtship display, or an insect, as a honeybee in indicating a source of nectar.
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the dance, ballet, interpretive dancing, and other dancing of an artistic nature performed by professional dancers before an audience.
idioms
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dance attendance. attendance.
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dance on air, to be hanged.
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dance to another tune, to change one's behavior, attitudes, etc.
verb
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(intr) to move the feet and body rhythmically, esp in time to music
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(tr) to perform (a particular dance)
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(intr) to skip or leap, as in joy, etc
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to move or cause to move in a light rhythmic way
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to attend someone solicitously or obsequiously
noun
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a series of rhythmic steps and movements, usually in time to music
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an act of dancing
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a social meeting arranged for dancing; ball
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( as modifier )
a dance hall
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a piece of music in the rhythm of a particular dance form, such as a waltz
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short for dance music
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dancelike movements made by some insects and birds, esp as part of a behaviour pattern
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informal to cause someone continued worry and exasperation; play up
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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dancernoun
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dancingnoun
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outdanceverb (used with object)
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antidancingadjective
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well-dancedadjective
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dancinglyadverb
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undancingadjective
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danceableadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has dancedperfect 3rd person singular
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have dancedperfect
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have been dancingperfect progressive
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has been dancingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am dancingprogressive 1st person singular
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is dancingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are dancingprogressive
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dancingparticiple
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dancessingular 3rd person
Past
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had dancedperfect
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was dancingprogressive singular
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were dancingprogressive plural
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had been dancingperfect progressive
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dancedsimple
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dancedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of dance
First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the verb) Middle English da(u)ncen, from Anglo-French dancer, dauncer, Old French dancier, perhaps from Old High German dansjan, dansōn (unrecorded) “to draw, stretch out, lead to a dance” ( see also tense 1 ( def. )); noun derivative of the verb
Explanation
A dance is a series of movements — sometimes choreographed, but sometimes not — where the person moves in time to music. Rumba, tango, disco, swing, and ballet are all examples of types of dances. If you move in a rhythmic manner — especially to music — you can use the verb dance to explain your actions. As a noun, a dance can be a social occasion, held by a school or by some other organization, where music is played and people gather to dance or just hang out. In fact, sometimes there is no actual dancing at a dance — especially when young teenagers feel awkward around one another.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Madonna's new album - Confessions On A Dance Floor: Part II - will be released on 3 July.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
When the Martha Graham Dance Company closed its five-day spring season at City Center on April 12, it was just six days shy of the troupe’s 100th anniversary.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
But Ms. Pike is terrific, as are Ms. Shaw, Mr. Dance and Mr. Baron Cohen, an agile comedian in a production that isn’t particularly taxing, except as regards our expectations for fully original comedy.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
The duo followed up the hit with the release of the singles “Joy and Pain” and “Get On the Dance Floor.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
Some of them were awarded to Ramirez Dance Studio, but many were in Selena’s or Gael’s name.
From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
