parade

[ puh-reyd ]

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.

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.

   Synonyms: flourish, flaunt, show

   Antonyms: conceal

3. to cause to march or proceed for display.

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.

parade

/ pəˈreɪd /

noun

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

   on parade

2. Also calledparade 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. rain on someone's parade
   rain on someone's parade to hinder someone's enjoyment; upset someone's plans
9. on parade
   on parade
   1. on display
   2. showing oneself off

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by through or along 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

Derived Forms

• paˈrader, noun

Other Words From

• pa·radeful adjective
• pa·radeless adjective
• pa·radelike adjective
• pa·rader noun
• pa·rading·ly adverb
• unpa·raded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parade¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of parade¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see hit parade ; rain on one's parade .

Example Sentences

In parades and rallies across the country, from Berkeley, California, to New York City, members of the Proud Boys have fought with counterprotesters, antifa, and anyone who gets in their way.

From Vox

Trillions in cash is parked on the sidelines, and poised to join the parade.

From Fortune

Seismometers can even detect ground vibrations generated by everyday human activities, such as traffic, construction and parades or football games.

From Science News

If it doesn’t do so this time around, there won’t be a parade through the streets of Leicester — only a long, empty trail of what-ifs.

From FiveThirtyEight

Lookout for any virtual parades your customers might be interested in and reach out for sponsorship.

From Search Engine Watch

Women want a hot, young thing to parade around on their arm, too.

From The Daily Beast

Circus parades often became as large a sight as the performance itself; one Barnum and Bailey parade stretched for three miles.

From The Daily Beast

The event was spread over two ballrooms, not one, so that the rolling parade of speakers would not be slowed by lunch.

From The Daily Beast

On Tuesday, we will once again have a fine Veterans Day parade in mid-Manhattan.

From The Daily Beast

The advantage to having a parade on 9/11 is it would remind everybody that the war started with an attack on America.

From The Daily Beast

The fact that the day following the punishment parade was a Sunday brought about a certain relaxation from discipline.

From Project Gutenberg

One day a young officer, losing his temper with him on parade, threatened to strike him with his whip.

From Project Gutenberg

A policeman courteously notified us that the main street of the city would be closed three hours for a Sunday School parade.

From Project Gutenberg

Stripped of its parade and tinsel, however, this theory is nothing but the old pantheism revived.

From Project Gutenberg

After dress parade a certain Major Drew, who knew Mr. Hartley, came up and was duly presented to the ladies.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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