parade

noun pa·rade \ pə-ˈrād \

|Updated on: 7 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: parade in a Sentence

Definition of parade

1 : a pompous show : exhibition

2 a : the ceremonial formation of a body of troops before a superior officer

b : a place where troops assemble regularly for parade

3 a : an informal procession

b : a public procession

c : a usually lengthy array or succession

a parade of visitors

4 a : a place for strolling

b : those who promenade

See parade defined for English-language learners

See parade defined for kids

Examples of parade in a Sentence

the annual Thanksgiving Day parade
After the team won the championship, the city threw a parade for them.
The town will put on a parade.
The marching band lined up for the homecoming parade.

Recent Examples of parade from the Web

Organizers of the Aurora Pride Parade have submitted a letter of intent to expand the parade into a weekend-long festival for 2019.

— steve lord, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora Pride Parade may expand into weekend-long festival," 2 July 2018
The parade starts at 2:30 p.m. and the day ends with a 10 p.m fireworks display.

— chris sims, Indianapolis Star, "31 ways to actually celebrate the Fourth of July on July 4th," 2 July 2018
Cadets from the North Quincy High School junior ROTC assemble in a parking lot across from a falafel shop for the Memorial Day parade in Quincy, Mass., eight miles south of Boston.

— doug struck, The Christian Science Monitor, "As Americans celebrate Independence Day, what does it mean to be a patriot?," 2 July 2018
Decorate a patriotic dinghy 12 feet and under and enter the parade.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Fireworks, parades set to take off in North County," 2 July 2018
Both offered a similarly sweet and tart jolt that acted as an exclamation mark to start the parade of 12 or more dishes ($335, service included).

— michael bauer, SFChronicle.com, "Atelier Crenn: SF’s newest 4-star restaurant," 29 June 2018
The parade ends at Beechwood Independent School District on Beechwood Road.

— chris mayhew, Cincinnati.com, "A NKY Fourth of July: Where to watch fireworks and parades," 28 June 2018
In just one sign of how the population has expanded in a short period of time, nearly 14,000 people – three times as many as last year – showed up during the Puerto Rican parade in Central Florida in April.

— Fox News, "In Florida battleground, Puerto Ricans fleeing Maria's destruction reshape electoral landscape," 28 June 2018
Trump got the idea for the parade while viewing France's Bastille Day Parade last summer.

— NBC News, "Planning for Trump's military parade finally getting underway," 28 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'parade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of parade

borrowed from French, "show, display (of an object to demonstrate its value), show of military force, cavalry procession," going back to Middle French, from parer "to prepare, adorn, dress (a person) with care" (going back to Old French) + -ade -ade — more at pare

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1656

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

parade Synonyms

Synonyms

cortege (also cortège), procession;

Related Words

progress;

column, line, string, train;

parade

verb

Definition of parade

paraded; parading

transitive verb

1 : to cause to maneuver or march : marshal

2 : promenade

3 : to exhibit ostentatiously

intransitive verb

1 : to march in or as if in a procession

2 : promenade

3 a : show off

b : masquerade

myths which parade as modern science
—M. R. Cohen

—

parader

noun

See parade defined for English-language learners

Examples of parade in a Sentence

The team and its fans paraded down the street.
Protesters paraded in front of City Hall.
The models paraded up and down the runway.
She paraded around on the beach in her bikini.
The victors paraded the prisoners through the streets.

Recent Examples of parade from the Web

Mayor Halili known for parading drug suspects in public but also alleged to have drug ties himself was shot and killed by a sniper Monday in a brazen attack in front of horrified employees and village leaders.

— Washington Post, "Philippine city mayor gunned down during flag-raising event," 2 July 2018
The 12-year-old daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise set up shop with some friends at New York City's Pride Parade on Sunday, June 24, offering ice-cold glasses of lemonade to parade-goers for $2 a pop, according to TMZ.

— lynsey eidell, Teen Vogue, "Suri Cruise Ran a Lemonade Stand at New York City's Pride Parade," 25 June 2018
As the principals met behind closed doors, talking heads filled the hours of rolling cable news coverage of the summit, replaying the footage of Trump and Kim shaking hands and parading around the property.

— eli stokols, latimes.com, "Ready! Action! Summit!! Trump and Kim's meeting felt made for the cameras," 12 June 2018
But as the cast paraded into the theater in the last seconds before the lights went down, the crowd went wild for Glover, dressed in a splashy, Lando-esque ensemble of red shirt and suit, chains, and slight white shoes.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Solo Premiere: How the Mysterious Star Wars Spinoff Played to Its First Audience," 11 May 2018
But props to you, Bella, for parading that heavy thing around the red carpet at all.

— alex warner, Marie Claire, "Bella Hadid's 10-Pound Met Gala Veil Had to Be Sewn to Her Head," 8 May 2018
Leal’s former headquarters in the Plaza de Armas, the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, is now surely one of the world’s most charming museums, with emerald peacocks parading around its courtyard filled with palm trees.

— néstor martí, Smithsonian, "The Man Who Saved Havana," 18 Apr. 2018
King had years earlier been arrested for parading without a permit and was convicted in Birmingham City Court and sentenced to five days in jail.

— greg garrison, AL.com, "MLK remembered: last meal, last campaign, last arrest in Birmingham," 3 Apr. 2018
During the performance, Ora can be seen dancing along to the music in an all-black ensemble complete with thigh-high boots as back-up dancers decked out in sequined British flag outfits parade around her.

— brianne tracy, PEOPLE.com, "Right Said Rita! Rita Ora Takes on 'I'm Too Sexy' for Lip Sync Battle," 28 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of parade

derivative of ¹parade

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1686

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

parade Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of parade

show, exhibit, display, expose, parade, flaunt mean to present so as to invite notice or attention. show implies no more than enabling another to see or examine.

- showed her snapshots to the whole group

exhibit stresses putting forward prominently or openly.

- exhibit paintings at a gallery

display emphasizes putting in a position where others may see to advantage.

- display sale items

expose suggests bringing forth from concealment and displaying.

- sought to expose the hypocrisy of the town fathers

parade implies an ostentatious or arrogant displaying.

- parading their piety for all to see

flaunt suggests a shameless, boastful, often offensive parading.

- nouveaux riches flaunting their wealth

PARADE Defined for English Language Learners

parade

noun

Definition of parade for English Language Learners

: a public celebration of a special day or event that usually includes many people and groups moving down a street by marching or riding in cars or on special vehicles (called floats)
: a military ceremony in which soldiers march or stand in lines so that they can be examined by officers or other important people
: a long series of people or things that come one after the other

parade

verb

Definition of parade for English Language Learners

: to walk or march together in public especially as a way of celebrating or protesting something
: to walk in a way that attracts attention
: to force (someone) to walk or march in public