prance

[ prans, prahns ]

/ præns, prɑns /

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See synonyms for: prance / prances / prancing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), pranced, pranc·ing.

to spring from the hind legs; to move by springing, as a horse.

to ride on a horse doing this.

to ride gaily, proudly, or insolently.

to move or go in an elated manner; cavort.

to dance or move in a lively or spirited manner; caper.

verb (used with object), pranced, pranc·ing.

to cause to prance.

noun

the act of prancing; a prancing movement.

OTHER WORDS FOR prance

4, 5 gambol, leap, skip, romp, frolic, frisk.

See synonyms for prance 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

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Origin of prance

1325–75; Middle English prauncen, praunsen (v.); akin to Danish (dial.) pransk spirited, said of a horse

OTHER WORDS FROM prance

prancer, nounpranc·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby prance

pralltriller, pram, pramipexole, prana, pranava, prance, prand., prandial, Prandtl, Prandtl number, prang

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

How to use prance in a sentence

Last July, for the first time in nearly a decade, Joanna Rohrback discovered that she could prance once more.
‘Prancercise’ Creator on Her ‘Wacky’ Workout and Being Too Famous to Prancercise|Winston Ross|May 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The horses are splendid animals; with dilated nostrils, and necks proudly arched, they seem to prance to the music of the flutes.
Greek Sculpture|Estelle M. Hurll
They had not been out of the stable for several days and were inclined to dance and prance.
The Rover Boys on the Farm|Arthur M. Winfield (AKA Edward Stratemeyer)
The forge was mute, the fire extinguished, the prance of horses and the bustle of men in a moment ceased.
The Astronomy of the Bible|E. Walter Maunder

Here the newcomer flourished clinched fists and began to prance.
The Wrong Twin|Harry Leon Wilson
The newcomer continued to prance alarmingly and to wield his arms as if against an invisible opponent.
The Wrong Twin|Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for prance

prance

/ (prɑːns) /

verb

(intr) to swagger or strut

(intr) to caper, gambol, or dance about

(intr)

(of a horse) to move with high lively springing steps
to ride a horse that moves in this way

(tr) to cause to prance

noun

the act or an instance of prancing

Derived forms of prance

prancer, nounprancingly, adverb

Word Origin for prance

C14 prauncen; perhaps related to German prangen to be in full splendour; compare Danish (dialect) pransk lively, spirited, used of a horse

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

prance

OTHER WORDS FOR prance

Origin of prance

OTHER WORDS FROM prance

Words nearby prance

Words related to prance

How to use prance in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prance

Derived forms of prance

Word Origin for prance