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

While not explicitly mimicking their moves, from scuttling to pounces the choreography does have a vigor that drives friendly and fierce moves into the fantastic. —Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025

The bear repeated the raking pounce a little higher up Duane’s back. —Marguerite Reiss, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2025

Verb

Fall foliage flew through the air as leopards Gemma and Meru recently pounced on piles of leaves inside a playroom at Nashville Zoo. —Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Nov. 2025

When the faint pass left his stick, Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook was first to pounce. —Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025

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