danced; dancing
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
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
dancer
noun
see also:
often attributive
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
Synonyms of dance
Relevance
Verb
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 June 2026
And then a small bird would swoop through the frame, or a breeze would cause the dry brush to wiggle in unison as if dancing.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 June 2026
Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Not necessarily in the sense of being physically demanding — the choreography Grande joins in alongside her 12-member dance crew is inspired, but nothing more complex than what she’s done before.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dance
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Based on the Apple TV series, the fizzy throwback spoofs Golden Age musicals, and follows an on-the-rocks couple who are trapped in a town where people sing and dance incessantly.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 June 2026
And then a small bird would swoop through the frame, or a breeze would cause the dry brush to wiggle in unison as if dancing.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 June 2026
Noun
Every July tens of thousands of cyclists cross Iowa from the Missouri River to the Mississippi, riding past farm stands that will turn into dance parties by nightfall, across miles of cornfields and up rolling hills.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Not necessarily in the sense of being physically demanding — the choreography Grande joins in alongside her 12-member dance crew is inspired, but nothing more complex than what she’s done before.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dance
Cite this Entry
“Dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dance. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dance
1 of 2 verb
danced; dancing
1
: to engage in or perform a dance
2
: to move quickly up and down or about
3
: to perform or take part in as a dancer
dancer
noun
dance
2 of 2 noun1
: an act or instance of dancing
2
: a series of rhythmic and patterned bodily movements usually performed to music
3
: a social gathering for dancing
4
: a piece of music by which dancing may be guided
5
: the art of dancing
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