pounce

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈpau̇n(t)s 

: the claw of a bird of prey

pounce

2 of 5

verb (1)

pounced; pouncing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to swoop upon and seize something with or as if with talons

The cat crouched and waited for the moment to pounce.

b

: to seize upon and make capital of something (such as another's blunder or an opportunity)

The press pounced on the mayor's ill-phrased remarks.

2

: to make a sudden assault or approach

… he could summon to his aid a company of goons ravenous to pounce on you …

—Alexander Theroux

pounce

3 of 5

noun (2)

: the act of pouncing

pounce

4 of 5

verb (2)

pounced; pouncing

transitive verb

: to dust, rub, finish, or stencil with pounce

pounce

5 of 5

noun (3)

1

: a fine powder formerly used to prevent ink from spreading

2

: a fine powder for making stenciled patterns

Synonyms of pounce

Verb (1)

• assault
• attack
• raid
• descend (on or upon)
• turn (on)
• storm
• set upon
• set at
• set on
• strike
• jump (on)
• fly at

Examples of pounce in a Sentence

Verb (1)

the muggers pounced on the unsuspecting tourists as soon as they rounded the corner

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The players have been patient, and Guerin has been just waiting to pounce. —Michael Russo, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026

Retail has seasons, trends and markdowns waiting to pounce. —Jj Rosen, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Nov. 2025

Verb

But the Lightning responded with four straight goals, including one just 33 seconds after Toffoli scored, as winger Nikita Kucherov pounced on a turnover by defenseman Sam Dickinson and fed Anthony Cirelli, who found Brandon Hagel with a diagonal seam pass for a tap-in. —Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026

Republicans pounced on the opportunity to paint Democrats, especially those in vulnerable seats, as extremists. —Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, punching tool, dagger, talon — more at punch

Verb (2)

Middle French poncer, from ponce

Noun (3)

French ponce pumice, from Middle French, from Late Latin pomic-, pomex, alteration of Latin pumic-, pumex — more at foam

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1841, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1535, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1705, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pounce

• bounce
• flounce
• ounce
• announce
• denounce
• pronounce
• renounce

Kids Definition

pounce

verb

ˈpau̇n(t)s

pounced; pouncing

1

: to swoop down on and seize something

a cat waiting to pounce

2

: to make a sudden assault or approach

a clerk pounced on me immediately

pounce noun