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• prone
  prone

  adjective

  having a natural inclination or tendency to something; disposed; liable.
• -prone
  -prone

  combining form

  liable or disposed to suffer

prone

¹ American  

[prohn] / proʊn /

adjective

1. having a natural inclination or tendency to something; disposed; liable.

   to be prone to anger.

   Synonyms:

   subject, apt

2. having the front or ventral part downward; lying face downward.

3. lying flat; prostrate.

   Synonyms:

   recumbent

4. having a downward direction or slope.

5. having the palm downward, as the hand.

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prone ² American  

[prohn] / proʊn /

noun

1. a sermon or a brief hortatory introduction to a sermon, usually delivered at a service at which the Eucharist is celebrated.

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prone ¹ British  

/ prəʊn /

adjective

1. lying flat or face downwards; prostrate

2. sloping or tending downwards

3. having an inclination to do something

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-prone ² British  

combining form

1. liable or disposed to suffer

   accident-prone

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Other Word Forms

• pronely
  adverb
• proneness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of prone¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin prōnus “turned or leaning forward, inclined downward, disposed,” adverb based on prō pro ¹ ( def. )

Origin of prone²

First recorded in 1660–70; from French prône “grill, grating (separating chancel from nave),” so called because notices and addresses were delivered there, from Old French prodne, prorne, prosne, by way of a Medieval Latin or Late Latin intermediary such as protinum (unrecorded) from Latin prothyrum “foyer, porch, vestibule,” from Greek próthyron, from pró pro- ² ( def. ) + thýra “door” ( see also door ( def. ))

Explanation

If you're prone to doing something, it means you're likely to do it, have a habit of doing it, or are susceptible to it. People who are prone to getting the flu every winter should probably get a flu shot in the fall. The second meaning of prone is "lying face down," and the Latin root is pronare, "to bend forward." This is a handy way to remember both meanings: if you tend to wait to start your term paper until the night before it's due, you are prone to procrastination — you bend toward it. If you stay up so late you fall asleep face down in the book, you are now prone at your desk.

Example Sentences

Experiments have shown that when people feel deprived or resentful, they become significantly more prone to gamble.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

Recent illegal, large-scale overfishing in Somali waters by Chinese boats has also challenged the livelihoods of traditional fishermen prone to turn pirate.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

AI chatbots trained to be warm and friendly when interacting with users may also be more prone to inaccuracies, new research suggests.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

At the same time, membranes made of more unsaturated phospholipids would have been more prone to fusion, promoting mixing.

From Science Daily • Apr. 29, 2026

Ella had read about the starfolk in Curious Creatures of the Marvellian World, and it was true, they weren't prone to favors.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Related Words

• apt
• devoted
• exposed
• inclined
• ready
• sensitive
• susceptible
• willing