parade

American  

[puh-reyd] / pəˈreɪd /

noun

1. a large public procession, usually including a marching band and often of a festive nature, held in honor of an anniversary, person, event, etc.

2. a military ceremony involving the formation and marching of troop units, often combined with saluting the lowering of the flag at the end of the day.

3. the assembly of troops for inspection or display.

4. a place where troops regularly assemble for inspection or display.

5. a continual passing by, as of people, objects, or events.

   the parade of pedestrians past the office; the parade of the seasons.

6. an ostentatious display.

   to make a parade of one's religious beliefs.

7. Chiefly British.

   1. a group or procession of promenaders.

   2. a promenade.

8. Fortification. the level space forming the interior or enclosed area of a fortification.

9. Fencing. a parry.

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verb (used with object)

parades, present (3rd person singular) paraded, past participle, past parading present participle

1. to walk up and down on or in.

2. to make parade of; display ostentatiously.

   Synonyms:

   flourish, flaunt, show

   Antonyms:

   conceal

3. to cause to march or proceed for display.

verb (used without object)

parades, present (3rd person singular) paraded, past participle, past parading present participle

1. to march in a procession.

2. to promenade in a public place, especially in order to show off.

3. to assemble in military order for display.

4. to assume a false or misleading appearance.

   international pressure that parades as foreign aid.

parade British  

/ pəˈreɪd /

noun

1. an ordered, esp ceremonial, march, assembly, or procession, as of troops being reviewed

   on parade

2. Also called: parade ground.  a place where military formations regularly assemble

3. a visible show or display

   to make a parade of one's grief

4. a public promenade or street of shops

5. a successive display of things or people

6. the interior area of a fortification

7. a parry in fencing

8. to hinder someone's enjoyment; upset someone's plans

9. 1. on display

   2. showing oneself off

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verb

1. to walk or march, esp in a procession (through)

   to parade the streets

2. (tr) to exhibit or flaunt

   he was parading his medals

3. (tr) to cause to assemble in formation, as for a military parade

4. (intr) to walk about in a public place

parade Idioms  

1. see hit parade; rain on one's parade.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unparaded
  adjective
• paradeless
  adjective
• paradelike
  adjective
• paradeful
  adjective
• paradingly
  adverb
• parader
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has paraded
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have paraded
  perfect
• have been parading
  perfect progressive
• is parading
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am parading
  progressive 1st person singular
• are parading
  progressive
• has been parading
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• parading
  participle
• parades
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had paraded
  perfect
• were parading
  progressive plural
• paraded
  participle
• had been parading
  perfect progressive
• was parading
  progressive singular
• paraded
  simple

Future

• will parade
  simple
• will have paraded
  perfect
• will be parading
  progressive
• will have been parading
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of parade

1650–60; < French, Middle French < Spanish parada a stop, stopping place, noun use of feminine of parado, past participle of parar to stop, end < Latin parāre to set. See compare, parry, -ade ¹

Explanation

A parade is a group of people marching in ceremony, celebration, or protest. Often a parade involves fire trucks, costumed adults throwing candy to children, baton twirlers, and members of the armed forces. Parade is also a verb, meaning to walk or march ostentatiously. When your sister first brings home her prom dress, she might parade around the living room after putting it on so everyone can see it. As a noun parade is an event in which a whole lot of people march in the streets — they could be wearing prom dresses, but more likely they're celebrating of a holiday or taking part in a military action.

Example Sentences

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and a parade of celebrities also attended the game.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Xi last met Kim in September, when he invited the North Korean leader and Putin to a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

Late last year, Xi invited Kim to a military parade in Beijing, keeping him prominently by his side alongside Putin.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

He had his first face-to-face meeting in six years with Xi last year when he visited Beijing for the military parade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Sisters on either side, living in the hand-me-down boots and jackets of his older brothers, a stairstep in the parade of Dannenbergs tripping off to church on Sunday mornings in height-descending order.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• brandish
• demonstrate
• flash
• prance
• strut
• swagger
• trot out