prone

prone

adj \ˈprōn\

Definition of PRONE

1

: having a tendency or inclination : being likely <prone to forget names> <accident-prone>

2

a : having the front or ventral surface downward b : lying flat or prostrate

— prone adverb

— prone·ly adverb

— prone·ness \ˈprōn-nəs\ noun

Examples of PRONE

1. <he was prone to emotional outbursts under stress>
2. <quickly subdue the suspect and get him into a prone position>
3. Hull then corralled the rebound and shoveled the puck past the left arm and leg of the prone Hasek with his forehand, touching off a wild on-ice celebration. —Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 28 June 1999
4. I too have been prone on my couch this week, a victim of the common cold. —Flannery O'Connor, letter, 20 Mar. 1961
5. My almond tree lies prone across the court, blown down by a gale. —Conrad Aiken, letter, 3 Oct. 1930

Origin of PRONE

Middle English, from Latin pronus bent forward, tending; akin to Latin pro forward — more at for

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PRONE

Synonyms: apt, given, inclined, tending

Antonyms: supine

Related Words: choosing, preferring; disposed, liable, likely, minded, predisposed, willing

Near Antonyms: averse, disinclined, indisposed, loath (also loth or loathe), unwilling

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of PRONE

prone, supine, prostrate, recumbent mean lying down. prone implies a position with the front of the body turned toward the supporting surface <push-ups require a prone position>. supine implies lying on one's back and suggests inertness or abjectness <lying supine on the couch>. prostrate implies lying full-length as in submission, defeat, or physical collapse <a runner fell prostrate at the finish line>. recumbent implies the posture of one sleeping or resting <a patient comfortably recumbent in a hospital bed>.

Rhymes with PRONE

blown, bone, clone, cone, crone, drone, flown, groan, grown, hone, known, loan, lone, moan, Mon, none, own, phone, pone, Rhône, roan, Saône, scone, sone, stone, throne, tone, zone