Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

parade

[puh-reyd]
See more synonyms for parade on Thesaurus.com
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.
Show More
verb (used with object), pa·rad·ed, pa·rad·ing.
  1. to walk up and down on or in.
  2. to make parade of; display ostentatiously.
  3. to cause to march or proceed for display.
Show More
verb (used without object), pa·rad·ed, pa·rad·ing.
  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.
Show More

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, -ade1
Related formspa·rade·ful, adjectivepa·rade·less, adjectivepa·rade·like, adjectivepa·rad·er, nounpa·rad·ing·ly, adverbun·pa·rad·ed, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for parade on Thesaurus.com
11. show, flaunt, flourish.

Antonyms

11. conceal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for parade

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • The civic portion of the parade numbered about five thousand men.

    Ridgeway

    Scian Dubh

  • Shouldn't we order out our askaris with their guns to make the parade?

    The Leopard Woman

    Stewart Edward White

  • She has entered upon a parade, which she knows not how to quit with a female grace.

    Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • I thought again of that parade and my impression of mass force.

    The Harbor

    Ernest Poole

  • Has this parade gone to your head—or has Sue been talking to you again?

    The Harbor

    Ernest Poole

British Dictionary definitions for parade

parade

noun
  1. an ordered, esp ceremonial, march, assembly, or procession, as of troops being reviewedon parade
  2. Also called: parade ground a place where military formations regularly assemble
  3. a visible show or displayto 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. rain on someone's parade to hinder someone's enjoyment; upset someone's plans
  9. on parade
    1. on display
    2. showing oneself off
Show More
verb
  1. (when intr, often foll by through or along) to walk or march, esp in a procession (through)to parade the streets
  2. (tr) to exhibit or flaunthe 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
Show More
Derived Formsparader, noun

Word Origin

C17: from French: a making ready, a setting out, a boasting display; compare Italian parata, Spanish parada, all ultimately from Latin parāre to prepare
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

Word Origin and History for parade

n.

1650s, "a show of bravado," also "an assembly of troops for inspections," from French parade "display, show, military parade," from Middle French parade (15c.), or from Italian parate "a warding or defending, a garish setting forth," or Spanish parada "a staying or stopping," all from Vulgar Latin *parata, from Latin parere "arrange, prepare, adorn" (see pare), which developed widespread senses in Romanic derivatives. Non-military sense of "march, procession" is first recorded 1670s.

Show More

v.

1680s (transitive), from parade (n.). Intransitive sense from 1748. Related: Paraded; parading.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with parade

parade

see hit parade; rain on one's parade.

Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.