dance

1 of 2

verb

ˈdan(t)s 

ˈdän(t)s

danced; dancing

intransitive verb

1

: to move one's body rhythmically usually to music : to engage in or perform a dance (see dance entry 2 sense 2)

dancing to our favorite song

Shall we dance?

2

: to move or seem to move up and down or about in a quick or lively manner

dance for joy

leaves dancing in the wind

transitive verb

1

: to perform or take part in as a dancer

dance the waltz

2

: to cause to dance

danced the baby on her knee

3

: to bring into a specified condition by dancing

danced his way into her heart

danceable

ˈdan(t)-sə-bəl 

adjective

dancer noun

dance

2 of 2

noun

often attributive

1

: an act or instance of moving one's body rhythmically usually to music : an act or instance of dancing (see dance entry 1 sense 1)

the couple's first dance as husband and wife

May I have this dance?

2

: a series of rhythmic and patterned bodily movements usually performed to music

slow dances

dance moves

3

: a social gathering for dancing

a high school dance

4

: a piece of music by which dancing may be guided

5

: the art of dancing

studied dance in college

Phrases

dance attendance

: to attend in an eager and servile manner

a celebrity used to having people dance attendance on him

Synonyms

Verb

• foot (it)
• hoof (it)
• step

Noun

• ball
• cotillion
• cotillon
• formal
• hop
• prom

Examples of dance in a Sentence

Verb

He never learned how to dance.

She has always loved to dance.

I like the song but it's really hard to dance to.

He danced her across the floor.

She dances with a famous ballet company.

She's a great actress, and she can dance and sing, too.

Noun

They can do all the popular dances.

The only dance he knows how to do is the twist.

How about one more dance?

He stopped right in the middle of the dance to tie his shoe.

He did a celebration dance in the end zone after scoring the touchdown.

She studied dance in college.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In the video, the two-time All-Pac-12 guard from Oregon State was dancing next to another coveted Pac-12 transfer, Stanford’s Kiki Iriafen, while both wore USC jerseys. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2024

Trailing the long cord of her mic with her, Caulfield dances and leans into the faces of fans, who are bouncing and shouting around her. —Steve Appleford, SPIN, 29 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English dauncen, from Anglo-French dancer

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dance

• ballroom dance
• barn dance
• belly dance
• break dance
• clog dance
• contra dance
• country-dance
• dance attendance
• dance card
• dance circle
• dance floor
• dance hall
• dance my heart out
• dance-off
• dance the night away
• dance to someone's tune
• dance to the tune of (someone)
• lead (someone) a (merry) dance
• line dance
• make a song and dance about (something)
• ring dance
• round dance
• Saint Vitus' dance
• Saint Vitus's dance
• shadow dance
• snake dance
• song and dance
• square dance
• step dance
• St. Vitus's dance
• sun dance
• sword dance
• tap dance
• tea dance
• toe dance
• war dance

Kids Definition

dance

1 of 2 verb

ˈdan(t)s 

danced; dancing

1

: to engage in or perform a dance

2

: to move quickly up and down or about

3

: to perform or take part in as a dancer

danceable

ˈdan(t)-sə-bəl 

adjective

dancer noun

dance

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of dancing

2

: a series of rhythmic and patterned bodily movements usually performed to music

3

: a social gathering for dancing

4

: a piece of music by which dancing may be guided

5

: the art of dancing