dance

verb

Save Word

\ 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 Phrases Containing dance Learn More About dance

Synonyms for dance

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb So much to digest, so much to dissect and so much to dance to. — Lisa Respers France, CNN, 29 July 2022 Thousands of revelers dressed in feathers and jewels—including myself this year—dance down the road for hours upon hours. — Natalie Meade, Vogue, 14 July 2022 In hustle, anyone can dance with anyone, and anybody can lead or follow. — New York Times, 7 July 2022 Tennant said not a single one of them could dance, especially Josh Lucas, even with three weeks of rehearsal. — Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 5 July 2022 The broad-shouldered Aventador, weighing in at an estimated 3,700 pounds, does not dance with the nimbleness of Fred Astaire. — Michael Harley, Forbes, 4 July 2022 Players dance and participate in promotions before, during and after the game. — Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic, 3 July 2022 Players dance and participate in promotions before, during and after the game. — Kent Somers, USA TODAY, 3 July 2022 In the video directed by Rodrigo Rodriguez, Eix and Beéle dance it up at a house party while delivering a few romantic lyrics to the girls around them, celebrating the promise of young love. — Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun A year into living in L.A., Jenny Jin, 34, signed up for a K-pop dance class to try something new and get some exercise. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2022 This could look like taking a dance class, taking a vinyasa/flow yoga class, or eating delicious new foods. — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2022 The experiments in dance-music styles continue in the record’s final third. — Mark Richardson, WSJ, 1 Aug. 2022 Black Coffee is here to prove that dance music is spiritual. — Delisa Shannon, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2022 Modern dance music’s reigning moody man took the stage yesterday with more than just his usual goosebump-inducing performance. — Katie Bain, Billboard, 29 July 2022 Second, my middle school child made a plan for a mate to come over after dance class. — oregonlive, 26 July 2022 Outside of the theme nights, the workers play music videos mainly ranging from dance music to top 40s, said manager James Alexander. — Madison Smalstig, The Indianapolis Star, 21 July 2022 Yet as constructed almost everything here simply feels louder and clunkier, as if throwing more people into the song-and-dance numbers will compensate for their mediocrity. — Brian Lowry, CNN, 15 July 2022 See More

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.