prance

1 of 2

verb

pranced; prancing

intransitive verb

1
: to spring from the hind legs or move by so doing
2
: to ride on a prancing horse
3
: to walk or move in a spirited manner : strut
also : to dance about

transitive verb

: to cause (a horse) to prance
prancer noun

prance

2 of 2

noun

: an act or instance of prancing
specifically : a prancing movement

Examples of prance in a Sentence

Verb The singer pranced around on stage. The little boy pranced across the room in his cowboy costume.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Plus, the icy pastel hues are reminiscent of ballerinas prancing in The Nutcracker. Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2025 The pig pranced around Alix’s ground-floor apartment like a toy poodle on high heels, hooves clicking along the wood floors. Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
As not to appear sexist, Noel then does his prance, followed by Dame Prue Leith, who does what the British would call twerking and everyone else would call ants in the pants. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025 Eight years later, however, his premature pregame prance remains a source of personal embarrassment. Michael Silver, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prance

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English prauncen

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prance was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prance. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

prance

verb
ˈpran(t)s
pranced; prancing
1
: to rise up or move about on the hind legs
2
: to ride on a prancing horse
3
: to walk or move about in a lively and proud manner : strut
prance noun
prancer
ˈpran(t)-sər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on prance

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