dance

verb

\ˈdan(t)s,

ˈdän(t)s\

danced; dancing

Definition of dance

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

dance attendance

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

dance

noun, often attributive

Definition of dance (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from dance Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about dance

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Synonyms for dance

Synonyms: Verb

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

Synonyms: Noun

ball, cotillion (also 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

Activities include singing, dancing, games, interactive Bible study, science, snacks and hands-on activities. — Staff Report, Daily Southtown, "Church news," 3 July 2018 In the film’s prologue that sees the Jets and the Sharks face off for the first time, director Robert Wise photographed his performers singing and dancing against textured and visually striking New York City locations that filled the entire frame. — Jared Cowan, Los Angeles Magazine, "Every L.A. Filming Location From Grease, 40 Years Later," 15 June 2018 The chorus was excellent in a singing and dancing take-down of the Hubbards. — Heidi Waleson, WSJ, "‘An American Soldier’ and ‘Regina’ Reviews: Prejudice and Power," 12 June 2018 At the same time as La Kymberlina was dancing, in another part of the library Bonnie White of El Cajon was having her future laid out before her during a tarot card reading. — J. Harry Jones, Pomerado News, "From Flamenco to mollusks, library workshops had it all," 26 May 2018 Concert with Hullabaloo — sing and dance your way into summer! — Ramona Sentinel, "Library gears up for action-packed summer," 25 May 2018 Opponents argued that a person who dances does not qualify as a top official of an Islamic state. — Richard Stone, Science | AAAS, "An Iranian researcher went home to serve his country. Now, ‘I realize that I’m lucky I’m not in prison.’," 24 May 2018 Around 250 guests attended, and videos of some players dancing at the party into the early hours circulated on social media. — Jerome Pugmire, chicagotribune.com, "Tuchel: 'We are here to win games' at PSG," 20 May 2018 Lori’s Line Dancing Meet new friends while dancing. — Mary Lou Cruz, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Fort Lauderdale area events July 18-28," 13 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

One of my more luminous memories of that odd year, 1974, was a dance performed in Central Park in New York by three long and lissome non-pregnant maidens in white gauze gym suits. — Charles Mccabe, San Francisco Chronicle, "Motherhood???, Charles McCabe, 1975," 14 June 2018 Music, dances, a Greek Marketplace and food are featured throughout the three-day festival. — Gloria Casas, Elgin Courier-News, "Saint Sophia’s Greek Fest shares sounds, tastes and feel of Greece at Elgin church," 14 July 2018 Dance Explosion is a culmination of the MiraCosta College Summer Dance Intensive and premieres a work by Madboots dance, one of the visiting guest artists. — Linda Mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Blue Star families honored," 13 July 2018 The workout combined bright leotards and upbeat dance music with aerobic exercise. — USA TODAY, "The biggest exercise fad the year you were born," 12 July 2018 The cheerleading camp is one day of dance and one day of cheer. — Pat Disabato, Daily Southtown, "Disabato: Harvey native Keith Rucker 'about giving back and paying it forward' with youth football camp," 10 July 2018 During the eight weeks of summer readings, the library will offer programs such as craft workshops, music shows, a comedy and juggling show, reptiles and amphibians, a puppet show and hip hop dance and karate workshop. — Courant Community, "Community News For The Vernon Edition," 10 July 2018 Daniela Wancier, the school's assistant professor of dance within its Visual and Performing Arts department, was selected to present her program at the Movement and Cognition world conference. — Emily Bloch, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Broward College dance professor travels to Harvard," 10 July 2018 My plan is to not stiffle the kid in me... the kid that wants to do weird and wacky things, like dance and sing in my underwear, and go to water parks and build slip n slides in summer! — Wes Siler, Outside Online, "Doing It for the ‘Gram Turns Deadly," 9 July 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.