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

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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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use prance in a sentence

When the RKO lawyer came prancing onto the scene, he told Mitchum their the trial was a lock.
The Stacks: Mr. Bad Taste and Trouble Himself: Robert Mitchum|Robert Ward|July 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A man is a man,” he told a friend, “and if a girl of eighteen comes prancing to you at all hours there is but one way.
The Man Who Invented Vampires and the Creepiest Literary Gathering Ever|Emma Garman|November 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

That's so corny, that [blank] in chief formulation, unless it's funny, like prancing-horse-owner-in-chief or something.
Bain and Outsourcing|Michael Tomasky|June 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The sleigh, with the horses prancing, swept on and did not even stop for its occupants to note the damage it had done.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
Trotting, prancing, and snorting as they came down the lane, they settled down once they were in the stable lot.
David Lannarck, Midget|George S. Harney
Hobby horses gaily prancing, Bats and Bowls and Maypole dancing.
A Humorous History of England|C. Harrison
Chub stopped prancing around the kitchen and came to a sudden halt.
Motor Matt's Daring, or, True to His Friends|Stanley R. Matthews
But before the ghost could speak again, a gorgeous witch came prancing up, carrying a broomstick wound with red ribbons.
Marjorie's Busy Days|Carolyn Wells

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 related to prance

How to use prance in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prance

Derived forms of prance

Word Origin for prance