dance

play

verb \ˈdan(t)s, ˈdän(t)s\

Definition of dance

danced

;

dancing

intransitive verb
1 : to move one's body rhythmically usually to music : to engage in or perform a dance (see ²dance 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

play \ˈdan(t)-sə-bəl\ adjective

dancer

noun

dance attendance

: to attend in an eager and servile manner a celebrity used to having people dance attendance on him

See dance defined for English-language learners

See dance defined for kids

Examples of dance in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of dance from the Web

Another video features Misty Copeland dancing to the words of Saul Williams.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "Bask in the Glory of Misty Copeland Dancing to Saul Williams," 19 July 2017
The Conservative movement’s debates over intermarriage are not just about which rabbis will or won’t bless couples or dance the hora or welcome unconverted Jews into their communities.

— emma green, The Atlantic, "‘We’re Headed Toward One of the Greatest Divisions in the History of the Jewish People’," 16 July 2017
Given that coaches can tap dance around serious questions and roll their eyes at absurd ones just about anywhere, the specific location is almost irrelevant.

— kevin scarbinsky, AL.com, "Take SEC Media Days, leave SEC Baseball and we'll call it even," 14 July 2017
Beating that heat is of no concern to the fire performers, who joyfully danced the limbo beneath blazing poles while aerialists swoosh overhead.

— kyle frischkorn, Smithsonian, "Step Right Up to the Big Top Circus Tent at the 50th Annual Folklife Festival," 30 June 2017
If presented with that question herself, Ms. Oberfelder would probably answer yes, as would most anyone who has devoted a lifetime to dance.

— siobhan burke, New York Times, "Does the Body Think? Do Your Neurons Dance?," 27 June 2017
In the new production, the staid court masque dances that might have seemed too slow and formal for a 21st-century audience took flight — literally.

— alissa j. rubin, The Seattle Times, "With acrobats and cake, a Paris Opera celebrates its rebirth," 23 June 2017
Member Danette Erickson got into the act and danced alongside one of the showgirls.

— joyce rudolph, Glendale News-Press, "On the Town: Dancers turn up the heat at club’s fundraiser," 20 June 2017
Harris, who has been dancing with the company since 2005, will be entering her senior year at Burbank High School in the fall.

— david laurell, Burbank Leader, "On the Town: From Sinatra to Madonna, student dancers channel the icons at Red Chair recital," 20 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of dance

Middle English dauncen, from Anglo-French dancer

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Dance Terms

attitude, honor, saltatory, sashay, taw

dance

noun, often attributive

Definition of dance

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

See dance defined for English-language learners

Examples of dance in a Sentence

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 of dance from the Web

Ramona High School's song and dance team will be selling Battle on the Mountain T-shirts with proceeds being going to that activity.

— joe naiman, Ramona Sentinel, "Battle on the Mountain returns to Ramona," 30 June 2017
These rocks spun around and bumped into each other in a chaotic dance that left a trail of debris in its wake.

— nathaniel scharping, Discover Magazine, "Everything Worth Knowing About ... Asteroids," 26 June 2017
Super Hoopers, like Hollie Owens of Clarksville, Indiana, combines dance and gymnastics with a full body workout to make hooping look easy.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "Not your mother's hula hoop. How the 'flow' of hooping has changed," 23 June 2017
The 19th-century composer helped make ballets like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker famous, writing scores that soared and forever linking his music to the world of dance.

— leilah bernstein, Los Angeles Magazine, "This Ballet about Tchaikovsky Reveals the Musician’s Talent and Torment," 23 June 2017
Drafting the Senate bill has been a delicate dance for McConnell.

— julie rovner, Kaiser Health News, "Senate Health Bill Would Revamp Medicaid, Alter ACA Guarantees, Cut Premium Support," 22 June 2017
There’s also panel discussions, video game tournaments, more than 50 vendors, dance party with DJs, Nerf gun wars, model building and much more.

— AL.com, "Cool things to do in Huntsville, June 18-24," 18 June 2017
Your child will enjoy martial arts, dance, parkour, art, ninja obstacle class, trampoline and more!

— South Florida Parenting, "After Care and Camps," 9 June 2017
Helping make this such a smooth running event was program director Amanda Balcazar and office assistants Jess Joiner and Liz Mathis, along with the community’s dance instructor, Joanne Burke.

— jane napier neely, La Cañada Valley Sun, "The Valley Line: Luck was a lady during this year’s Community Center Casino Night," 30 May 2017

Origin and Etymology of dance

see ¹dance

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Dance Terms

attitude, honor, saltatory, sashay, taw

DANCE Defined for English Language Learners

dance

play

verb

Definition of dance for English Language Learners

: to move your body in a way that goes with the rhythm and style of music that is being played
: to move with and guide (someone) as music plays : to dance with (someone)
: to perform (a particular type of dance)

dance

noun

Definition of dance for English Language Learners

: a series of movements that are done as music is playing : a way of dancing
: an act of dancing
: the art or activity of dancing

DANCE Defined for Kids

dance

play

verb \ˈdans\

Definition of dance for Students

danced

;

dancing

1 : to step or move through a series of movements usually in time to music
2 : to move about or up and down quickly and lightly Butterflies danced in the garden.

dancer

noun

dance

play

noun

Definition of dance for Students

1 : an act of stepping or moving through a series of movements usually in time to music
2 : a social gathering for dancing
3 : a set of movements or steps for dancing usually in time to special music The samba is a popular dance of Brazil.
4 : the art of dancing She is studying dance.