2
: a sleeplike state (as of deep hypnosis) usually characterized by partly suspended animation with diminished or absent sensory and motor activity
3
: a state of profound abstraction or absorption
Examples of trance in a Sentence
Noun
The spiritual healer fell into a trance.
He was staring out the window in a trance.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
The film follows the story of Bayu, an Indonesian teenager who aspires to become a shaman for local trance parties in a small suburban community where inhabitants derive pleasure from spiritual possession.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
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Noun
With nothing left to do, the man from the funeral home begins wheeling the gurney away, and everyone follows, as if in a procession or a trance.
—David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
The film follows the story of Bayu, an Indonesian teenager who aspires to become a shaman for local trance parties in a small suburban community where inhabitants derive pleasure from spiritual possession.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
Greyhounds and Basset hounds are also more predisposed to trancing.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trance
Cite this Entry
“Trance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trance. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
trance
noun1
: a sleeplike altered state of consciousness (as of deep hypnosis) usually characterized by partly suspended animation with diminished or absent sensory and motor activity and subsequent lack of recall
2
: a state of profound abstraction or absorption
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