prank

noun

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\ ˈpraŋk

Definition of prank

(Entry 1 of 3)

: trick:

a obsolete : a malicious act

b : a mildly mischievous act

c : a ludicrous act

prank

verb (1)

pranked; pranking

Definition of prank (Entry 2 of 3)

1 transitive : to play a trick or prank on (someone) … you feel shock, dismay, then anger as it dawns on you that you've been pranked …— Lucius Shepard On the day of the ceremony, a stuntwoman pal, dressed to look like Swanson, kicked things off by pranking the audience and falling down a flight of stairs. (The crowd went from gasping to laughing once the ruse was revealed.)— Lorenzo Benet

2 intransitive, obsolete : to play tricks or pranks

prank

verb (2)

pranked; pranking; pranks

Definition of prank (Entry 3 of 3)

intransitive verb

: to show oneself off

transitive verb

: to dress or adorn gaily or showily

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More About prank

Examples of prank in a Sentence

Noun He enjoys playing pranks on his friends. as a prank, several students managed to change all the classroom clocks to different times

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Police were told that the boy had pulled a prank on his parents that was not well received. — cleveland, 19 Apr. 2022 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live pulled an April Fools’ prank on their viewers and in-studio audience as the two Jimmys hosted each other’s late-night show Friday. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2022 The television was still pretty new at that time, so viewers weren't suspecting their nightly news to play an April Fools' prank on them. — Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Mar. 2022 The studio allegedly preferred the other actor, but that changed after Williams pulled a prank on Lawrence during an audition. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 14 Mar. 2022 The pilot turned out to be a neighbor who had learned to fly and wanted to play a prank on the 18-year-old Halvorsen. — Nate Carlisle, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Feb. 2022 The law change would combine elements of other existing laws that currently can apply to the prank, the name for which refers to a police SWAT team. — cleveland, 16 Mar. 2022 Movie historians will note that the title Dementia 13 is a film-industry prank, borrowed from the exploitation-movie hucksterism made famous by William Castle. — Armond White, National Review, 29 Sep. 2021 In a letter to families and students Monday afternoon, Muñoz said the vandalism appears to have started as a prank, which included throwing toilet paper on trees and writing on sidewalks. — oregonlive, 25 May 2021 See More

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