dance

verb \ ˈdan(t)s , ˈdän(t)s \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: dance in a Sentence

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

Revelers took over some three floors of the hotel, with many dancing the night away to the tunes of a live jazz band in the grand ballroom.

— maria ward, Vogue, "Inside the Official Tony Awards After-Party at the Plaza," 11 June 2018
Videos that Boutte had posted online showed the doctor dancing to music while making incisions or preparing to operate with patients’ nude backsides exposed.

— terah boyd, ajc, "Women say Gwinnett doctor invaded privacy with online video, photos," 4 June 2018
The neighborhood also hosts an international food trucks dinner with a drum circle and dancing 5 to 8 p.m. June 18 at 3685 Commerical Drive.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "These are the best Indianapolis food events in June," 30 May 2018
The Levaggis enjoyed dancing to Cuban music and attending the Symphony and Opera.

— steve rubenstein, San Francisco Chronicle, "Jules Levaggi, psychiatric social worker who couldn’t quite retire, dies at 90," 30 May 2018
The world is dancing to a show North Korea is putting on.

— victoria kim, latimes.com, "North Korean refugees in L.A. on the canceled U.S.-North Korea summit: We never got our hopes up," 25 May 2018
Food was provided from a dozen or so New Orleans restaurants, and guests danced to music by The Benchwarmers.

— sue strachan, NOLA.com, "St. Martin's Episcopal School composes an Art & Soul Gala," 22 May 2018
Posts on social media show party goers dancing to electronic music, watching inspirational videos about crypto on screens around the dance floor and gawking at two Aston Martins parked by the boat.

— bloomberg, Fortune, "Crypto Bros' Lamborghini Obsession Morphs Into Aspirational Parody," 18 May 2018
Acts from musicians to comedians to experimental art to dance to improv to storytelling have graced the anything-goes open mic.

— cleveland.com, "10 things to do in Akron and Summit County the week of May 14-20," 14 May 2018

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

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

dance Synonyms

Synonyms

dart, flick, flicker, flirt, flit, flitter, flutter, zip;

Near Antonyms

float, hang, hover;

scamper, scud, scurry, scuttle, skip, skitter;

meander, ramble, roam, wander;

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

But there'll also be healthy, heaping portions of polka music, Polish delicacies, vodka tastings, traditional Polish dance and more.

— chris foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Things to do in Milwaukee Father's Day weekend, from Polish Fest to the Underwear Bike Ride," 14 June 2018
To offset it the costs, the students raise money with a photo booth at every school dance and other school events to help, says Turner.

— kayla fitzgerald, sacbee, "Advanced photography class at Sutter Middle School yields creative outlet, awards," 13 June 2018
Think about that: the 1930s, modern dance and Betty Ford from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

— Washington Post, "Q&A: Opioids crisis is backdrop to new play about Betty Ford," 11 June 2018
Raya loves to sing, dance, and play with her dolls.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Siblings ready to share a family," 9 June 2018
The 1970s witnessed a flourishing of experimentation in black Catholic worship styles, as gospel and jazz music, West African drumming and dance, and black Protestant preaching styles all found their way into Catholic Masses.

— Smithsonian, "The History of Black Catholics in America," 8 June 2018
Damien has a bigger presence with stage time for song, dance and snark, earning Grey Henson a Tony nomination for featured actor.

— erika milvy, latimes.com, "Tina Fey leads the 'Mean Girls' charge at the Tony Awards," 7 June 2018
The Globe Hall at one time gained renown as a place where certain negro sects met and performed voodoo dances and other fanatical demonstrations.

— doug maccash, NOLA.com, "David Byrne cancels New Orleans show in Oct. Simple Minds due in Nov.," 4 June 2018
Local, regional, national and international artists present 12 days of artistic celebration in theatre, music, dance and film.

— rasputin todd, Cincinnati.com, "Things to do this week in Cincinnati: June 4-10," 4 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of dance

see ¹dance

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

dance Synonyms

Synonyms

ball, cotillion (also cotillon), formal, hop, prom;

hoedown, square dance;

Other Dance Terms

attitude, honor, saltatory, sashay, taw

DANCE Defined for English Language Learners

dance

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

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

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.

Learn More about dance

See words that rhyme with dance Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dance Spanish Central: Translation of dance Nglish: Translation of dance for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of dance for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dance

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up dance? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

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dance

Definition of dance

danceable

dancer

Examples of dance in a Sentence

Recent Examples of dance from the Web

Origin and Etymology of dance

dance Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Dance Terms

dance

Definition of dance

Examples of dance in a Sentence

Recent Examples of dance from the Web

Origin and Etymology of dance

dance Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Dance Terms

Phrases Related to DANCE

Related Phrases

DANCE Defined for English Language Learners

dance

Definition of dance for English Language Learners

dance

Definition of dance for English Language Learners

DANCE Defined for Kids

dance

Definition of dance for Students

dancer

dance

Definition of dance for Students

Learn More about dance

Seen and Heard

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