dance

1 of 2

verb

ˈdan(t)s 

ˈdän(t)s

danced; dancing

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

danceable

ˈdan(t)-sə-bəl 

adjective

dancer noun

see also:

dance attendance

dance

2 of 2

noun

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

Verb

• step
• waltz
• shuffle
• strut
• boogie

Noun

• prom
• festival
• celebration
• ball

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

In warmer water, corals burned energy faster, which increased their demand for oxygen — prompting the cilia to dance faster. — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026

Married couple Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita are dancing into the microseries space. — Peter White, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026

Noun

The performers staged what appeared to be some kind of dance battle, creating a circle near sculptures by David Smith and Barnett Newman. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 6 Aug. 2026

And the BroadStage, a performing arts venue on Santa Monica College’s campus, hosts a variety of concerts and dance shows and serves as the home base of the Santa Monica International Jazz Festival. — Carrie Bell, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English dauncen, from Anglo-French dancer

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dance

• ballroom dance
• barn dance
• belly dance
• break-dance
• clog dance
• contra dance
• country-dance
• dance attendance
• dance card
• dance circle
• dance floor
• dance hall
• dance music
• dance my heart out
• dance-off
• dance the night away
• dance to someone's tune
• dance to the tune of (someone)
• electronic dance music
• hip-hop dance
• jazz dance
• lead (someone) a (merry) dance
• line dance
• make a song and dance about (something)
• ring dance
• round dance
• Saint Vitus' dance
• Saint Vitus's dance
• same old song and dance
• shadow dance
• snake-dance
• song and dance
• square dance
• step dance
• St. Vitus's dance
• sun dance
• sword dance
• tap dance
• tea dance
• toe dance
• war dance

Rhymes for dance

• chance
• glance
• hance
• hanse
• lance
• manse
• prance
• stance
• trance
• advance
• askance
• enhance

Kids Definition

dance

1 of 2 verb

ˈdan(t)s 

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

danceable

ˈdan(t)-sə-bəl 

adjective

dancer noun

dance

2 of 2 noun

1

: 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