prance

[prans, prahns]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR prance 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.

Origin of prance

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

Related formspranc·er, nounpranc·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms for prance

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR prance ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for prancing

sashay, swagger, gambol, strut, caper, bound, parade, romp, dance, skip, mince, spring, sweep, jump, step, stalk, frisk, leap, flounce, tread

Examples from the Web for prancing

Contemporary Examples of prancing

It felt like prancing, she said, like the way a happy horse frolics through a field of poppies.
‘Prancercise’ Creator on Her ‘Wacky’ Workout and Being Too Famous to Prancercise
Winston Ross
May 30, 2013
The star—radiant smile, pretty and prancing like she was to the catwalk born—is N.
Hysteria Strikes Mumbai School Kids
Dilip D’Souza
March 29, 2013
Oh, he talks a good game, prancing around on The View and Larry King.
In Defense of Blago
Bill Geist
January 30, 2009

Historical Examples of prancing

They were then halfway to the ship, with Murgatroyd prancing on ahead.
Pariah Planet
Murray Leinster
He's a prancing beast, and so we mustn't startle him—not till I have located the stuff.
Victory
Joseph Conrad
“Heap big Injun chief,” announced Bobby, prancing about in his suit.
Four Little Blossoms at Brookside Farm
Mabel C. Hawley
Now the fame of Prue and her prancing was not long pent up in Carthage.
In a Little Town
Rupert Hughes
I'd have had you prancing to the tune of the wedding march before now.
The Trail of '98
Robert W. Service

British Dictionary definitions for prancing

prance

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 Formsprancer, 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

Word Origin and History for prancing

prance

late 14c., originally of horses, of unknown origin, perhaps related to Middle English pranken "to show off," from Middle Dutch pronken "to strut, parade" (see prank); or perhaps from Danish dialectal prandse "to go in a stately manner." Klein suggests Old French paravancier. Related: Pranced; prancing. As a noun from 1751, from the verb.