dance

[ dans, dahns ]

/ dæns, dɑns /

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See synonyms for: dance / danced / dances / dancing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), danced, danc·ing.

to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, especially to the accompaniment of music.

to leap, skip, etc., as from excitement or emotion; move nimbly or quickly: to dance with joy.

to bob up and down: The toy sailboats danced on the pond.

verb (used with object), danced, danc·ing.

to perform or take part in (a dance): to dance a waltz.

to cause to dance: He danced her around the ballroom.

to cause to be in a specified condition by dancing: She danced her way to stardom.

noun

a successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music.

an act or round of dancing; set: May I have this dance?

the art of dancing: to study dance.

a social gathering or party for dancing; ball: Was he invited to the dance?

a piece of music suited in rhythm or style to a particular form of dancing: He liked the composer's country dances.

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.

the dance, ballet, interpretive dancing, and other dancing of an artistic nature performed by professional dancers before an audience.

OTHER WORDS FOR dance

2 cavort, caper, frolic, gambol, prance.

See synonyms for dance on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about dance

dance attendance. attendance (def. 3).

dance on air, Slang. to be hanged.

dance to another tune, to change one's behavior, attitudes, etc.

Origin of dance

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English da(u)ncen<Anglo-French dancer, dauncer,Old French dancier, perhaps <Old High German *dansjan to lead (someone) to a dance; (noun) Middle English da(u)nce<Anglo-French; Old French dance, derivative of dancier

OTHER WORDS FROM dance

danc·ing·ly, adverban·ti·danc·ing, adjectiveoutdance, verb (used with object), out·danced, out·danc·ing.un·danc·ing, adjective

well-danced, adjective

Words nearby dance

danazol, dan buoy, danburite, Danbury, Danby, dance, danceable, dance attendance on, dance band, dance card, dance drama

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dance in a sentence

This “ordered dance” of electrons could give rise to the fast radio burst by converting the energy of the electrons’ movement into radio waves, Metzger says.
Neutrinos could reveal how fast radio bursts are launched|Lisa Grossman|September 16, 2020|Science News
Cycling, high-intensity interval training, yoga, and dance are among the weekly workouts.
Everything announced at Apple’s ‘Time Flies’ event today|rhhackettfortune|September 15, 2020|Fortune
Whether your kid likes hip-hop, Zumba, or just bopping around the living room to some Disney tunes, there’s an online dance class that will get them sweating.
A 15-Week Exercise Plan for Kids and Families|Krista Langlois|September 12, 2020|Outside Online
Never mind that its primary content is teenage dance videos.
How Trump’s TikTok ban pushed China’s most independent tech billionaire closer to Beijing|claychandler|September 10, 2020|Fortune

Most viewers never notice the gorilla — even when it stops to do a funny dance.
You don’t see as much color as you think|Bethany Brookshire|August 21, 2020|Science News For Students
Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance is a different sound for you.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Twelve-year-old dance prodigy Maddie Ziegler has suffered the wrath of Dance Moms tyrant Abby Lee Miller.
See Burly Shia LaBeouf Interpretive Cage Fight Lil Sia in the Singer’s Fantastic New Music Video|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And with the dance sequence, we wanted something very physical.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“My dance instructor always says she earns most of her income from private teaching,” says Monir.
Iran’s Becoming a Footloose Nation as Dance Lessons Spread|IranWire|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Even for Arabic dance no one wears a long dress, just a scarf around the hips.
Iran’s Becoming a Footloose Nation as Dance Lessons Spread|IranWire|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The moon seemed to smile on him; the aurora appeared to dance with unwonted vigour, as if in glee; the very stars winked at him!
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Dance-giving mammas were anxious to secure the success of their entertainments by obtaining the presence of "lovely Mrs. Haggard."
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Aristide picked it up and began to dance and shake his fist at the invisible police.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
The first curtsey I remember receiving, except of course in the stately ceremonies of the dance.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
But you, so formed to shine—to eclipse all others—do you never dance, seorita?
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various

British Dictionary definitions for dance

dance

/ (dɑːns) /

verb

(intr) to move the feet and body rhythmically, esp in time to music

(tr) to perform (a particular dance)

(intr) to skip or leap, as in joy, etc

to move or cause to move in a light rhythmic way

dance attendance on someone to attend someone solicitously or obsequiously

noun

a series of rhythmic steps and movements, usually in time to musicRelated adjective: Terpsichorean

an act of dancing

a social meeting arranged for dancing; ball
(as modifier)a dance hall

a piece of music in the rhythm of a particular dance form, such as a waltz

short for dance music (def. 2)

dancelike movements made by some insects and birds, esp as part of a behaviour pattern

lead someone a dance British informal to cause someone continued worry and exasperation; play up

Derived forms of dance

danceable, adjectivedancer, noundancing, noun, adjective

Word Origin for dance

C13: from Old French dancier

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with dance

dance

In addition to the idioms beginning with dance

dance attendance on
dance to another tune

also see:

lead a chase (dance)
song and dance

dance

OTHER WORDS FOR dance

Idioms about dance

Origin of dance

OTHER WORDS FROM dance

Words nearby dance

Words related to dance

How to use dance in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dance

Derived forms of dance

Word Origin for dance

Other Idioms and Phrases with dance