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

Explanation

When you prance, you swagger around with exaggerated, proud movements. If you've seen many rock concerts, you've seen people prance around onstage. When people prance, they're showing off, strutting for the benefit of their audience. Horses prance too, with a gait that's also a little artificial, using high, springy steps. You might prance a little when you run up on stage to accept an award, and a show horse might be equally inclined to prance as it moves past the judges. The horse gait definition is the original meaning of prance, and it probably comes from the Middle English pranken, "to show off."

Example Sentences

Some people take this stuff way too seriously and kind of prance around the ring.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2024

Also, is it really necessary for him to prance on top of the dugout in the ninth inning disrupting the view of the fans?

From Seattle Times • Jun. 19, 2022

If pandemic dating requires I prance an imaginary catwalk in the parking lot of McDonald’s, then I’m out.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2021

Take away the athletes and there would be no one to watch the despots of sport dress up in their blazers and prance through the opening ceremonies.

From Washington Post • Jul. 13, 2021

“Yours truly trusts that a modicum of caution will he exercised in the prance, to prevent delivery of uncomfortable blows to the posterior of the forequarters?”

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• gambol
• sashay
• strut
• swagger