prance

American  

[prans, prahns] / præns, prɑns /

verb (used without object)

pranced, prancing

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

2. to ride on a horse doing this.

3. to ride gaily, proudly, or insolently.

4. to move or go in an elated manner; cavort.

   Synonyms:

   frisk, frolic, romp, skip, leap, gambol

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

   Synonyms:

   frisk, frolic, romp, skip, leap, gambol

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verb (used with object)

pranced, prancing

1. to cause to prance.

noun

1. the act of prancing; a prancing movement.

prance British  

/ prɑːns /

verb

1. (intr) to swagger or strut

2. (intr) to caper, gambol, or dance about

3. (intr)

   1. (of a horse) to move with high lively springing steps

   2. to ride a horse that moves in this way

4. (tr) to cause to prance

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noun

1. the act or an instance of prancing

Other Word Forms

• prancer noun
• prancingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of prance

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

Example Sentences

My little cousin is prancing around the room with her nose pointed high.

From Literature

Suddenly, the rock god who only three years prior hit his commercial apex with “Let’s Dance,” a master of artistic shapeshifting who pioneered music videos long before MTV existed, was prancing around with Muppets.

From Salon

Churro pranced in a circle in Natalie’s lap, smug with victory, then settled down and closed his eyes.

From Literature

Father leaps and prances around me, sniffing me and licking my fur.

From Literature

And the groove, this time led by a simple, prancing line by Mr. Maynard, simulates the rhythmic movement of tidying up.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• gambol
• sashay
• strut
• swagger