dance

verb

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\ ˈdan(t)s

, ˈdän(t)s \

danced; dancing

Definition of dance

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

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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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 The remaining contestants in Group A will dance next week to compete for the Diamond Mask Trophy. — Chloe Melas, CNN, "'The Masked Dancer' reveals the identity of the Moth," 14 Jan. 2021 But often, a young man will enter the ring to dance with her. — New York Times, "Welcoming a New Year at an Ancient Festival in Pakistan," 27 Dec. 2020 Another was an infomercial for a miniature staircase that people can put next to their ears at night, so that their dreams can come out and dance, to prevent headaches. — Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, "The Otherworldly Comedy of Julio Torres," 21 Dec. 2020 In the video series, users dance offscreen while choosing between two options given at the top of the screen. — Mary Honkus, PEOPLE.com, "Gordon Ramsay on His Friendship with Gigi Hadid: 'Only Reason Why My Kids Want to Talk to Me'," 16 Dec. 2020 So simple but so devastatingly effective -- did anyone not dance or work out to this song by the time the year was over? — Billboard Staff, Billboard, "The 25 Best Latin Songs of 2020: Staff Picks," 16 Dec. 2020 Children can sing and dance with Miss Jamie from the Farm at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7, on the Naperville Public Library’s YouTube and Facebook pages. — Michelle Mullins, chicagotribune.com, "This Week in Naperville," 4 Dec. 2020 Shake it out, dance around, blast your music, and let this full-body circuit give you a welcome change of pace. — Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, "A Full Body Circuit Workout to Help You Shake Off the Day," 30 Dec. 2020 The usual Edinburgh celebration sees Prince’s Street blocked off for blocks as partygoers dance to live music and await a big fireworks display, according to the event's official website. — Peter Aitken, Fox News, "How the coronavirus pandemic is changing New Year's Eve celebrations across the world," 29 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Stargazers are in for a rare treat in the days just head of Christmas, as two of the solar system’s brightest planets, Jupiter and Saturn, engage in a celestial dance that will bring them within planetary kissing distance in the evening sky. — Dan Falk, Science, "In rare sky show, Jupiter and Saturn will nearly 'touch' on the winter solstice," 14 Dec. 2020 In putting it all together, Lipa has crafted a new blueprint for irresistible dance-pop. — Troy L. Smith, cleveland, "Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘WAP’ is the undisputed song of 2020," 6 Dec. 2020 In November, the U.K. dance-pop star performed a Studio 2054 livestream inspired by the legendary Manhattan club Studio 54. — Billboard Staff, Billboard, "Revealed: Billboard's 2020 Women In Music Executives," 3 Dec. 2020 After Beyoncé, the three top contenders — with six nominations each — are Taylor Swift, English dance-pop singer Dua Lipa and rapper Roddy Rich. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Grammys 2020: Beyoncé leads with 9 nominations; Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Roddy Rich have 6 each," 24 Nov. 2020 The Ghani administration and the insurgents have been locked in a delicate dance, made more complicated by the peace deal the Taliban entered with the U.S. in February. — Eltaf Najafizada, Bloomberg.com, "U.S. Vow of Early Afghan Exit Raises Threat of Resurgent Taliban," 20 Nov. 2020 Until then, sit back, relax, and reflect on what the planet of anger, action, egos, and desire has taught you in its backward dance. — Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, "Now That Mars Retrograde Is Ending, It’s Time To Take A Leap," 11 Nov. 2020 The Australian pop star’s 15th album, due Friday, caps a year filled with dance-pop releases from Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, Jessie Ware, Lady Gaga and the Weeknd, but for Minogue, disco is nothing new. — Tariro Mzezewa, New York Times, "Kylie Minogue Swoons for Prince (and Ennio Morricone)," 3 Nov. 2020 Finally, at a dance, a boy tells her about a journal, Wild Wheat, that publishes young and unknown writers. — Lauren Oyler, Harpers Magazine, "Reality Under My Skin," 5 Jan. 2021

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.