trance

1 of 2

noun

ˈtran(t)s 

1

: stupor, daze

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

trancelike

ˈtran(t)s-ˌlīk 

adjective

trance

2 of 2

verb

tranced; trancing

transitive verb

: entrance, enrapture

"… I, tranced, beheld an awful glory …"

—Herman Melville

Synonyms of trance

Noun

• daydreaming
• reverie

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

Noun

Many in Europe and the US were fascinated by the exceptional states of consciousness discussed in some Buddhist teachings, such as trances, visions, and telepathy. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 July 2026

Plus, all of the songs put you in a nearly hypnotic trance that forces you to count in your head or tap your foot along to the beats. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 2 July 2026

Verb

Attendees will enjoy trancing out in the popular Fluorescent Tent, where rocks glow like alien candy under UV light. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025

Wait, the bunny Anna is holding and trancing (a type of hold on the bunny's back that puts it into a fear state) is strikingly similar to Parker. — Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English traunce, from Anglo-French transe death, coma, rapture, from transir to depart, die, from Latin transire to cross, pass by — more at transient

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1597, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for trance

• chance
• dance
• glance
• hance
• hanse
• lance
• manse
• prance
• stance
• advance
• askance
• enhance

Kids Definition

trance

noun

ˈtran(t)s

1

: stupor sense 1

2

: a sleeplike state (as of deep hypnosis)

3

: a state of being so deeply absorbed in something as to be unaware of one's surroundings

trancelike

-ˌlīk

adjective

Medical Definition

trance

noun

ˈtran(t)s 

1

: 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

trancelike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

or trance-like

a trancelike state