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Synonyms

prom

1 American  
[prom] / prɒm /

noun

  1. a formal dance, especially one held by a high school or college class at the end of an academic year.

PROM 2 American  
[prom] / prɒm /

noun

Computers.

  1. a memory chip whose contents can be programmed by a user or manufacturer for a specific purpose.

prom. 3 American  

abbreviation

  1. promontory.

prom 1 British  
/ prɒm /

noun

  1. short for promenade promenade concert

  2. informal short for promenade

"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
PROM 2 British  
/ prɒm /

acronym

  1. programmable read only memory

"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

Etymology

Origin of prom1

1890–95, short for promenade

Origin of PROM2

p(rogrammable) r(ead)-o(nly) m(emory)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She said pupils will make an appointment to come to the boutique, to try on as many outfits as they want, find something, get it reserved, then wear it at prom.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

It is the time of year when dress shops up and down the country are inundated with teenagers seeking the picture-perfect outfit for their school prom.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Her prom dreams inch closer as her lies begin to mount and her new alabaster skin starts peeling off at extremely inopportune moments.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

“Pretty in Pink” originally concluded with Andie and Duckie together, sharing a dance at the prom, which test audiences disliked so much that they booed the screen.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

My dad took my mother to her high school prom, even.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.