dance 1 of 2

noun

Definition of dancenext
as in prom
a social gathering for dancing who are you taking to the dance on Saturday night?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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dance

2 of 2

verb

ˈdan(t)s How to pronounce dance (audio)
1
as in to step
to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music she can't resist dancing to her favorite rock bands

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to dart
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements the lithe boxer danced around the ring, staying just out of the reach of his opponent

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dance
Noun
There are a lot of warehouses where there are dance parties and after-hours and raves. — Joe Lynch, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2026 The good news is this may not be the last of Yamazaki’s dance with Godzilla as the ending leaves room for a third edition, which considering the artistic and crowd- pleasing success of the first two is something to look forward to. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
Everyone had to keep dancing and try not to laugh while the actors said their lines. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2026 The Jamaican musical style grew from an encounter between African and European traditions, and its banjos, guitars, hand percussion, and rumba boxes accompanied dancing, drinking, storytelling, and songs about life’s daily irritations. — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dance
  1. prom
  2. step
  3. dart
  4. festival
  5. waltz
  6. flit
  7. celebration
  8. shuffle
Noun
  • Murray rocked a royal rewear of his Prince Charming costume from the teen rom com, escorting his wife Sarah Roemer to a prom at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County oncology department.
    — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2026
  • In August 2017, Kate shared a throwback photo of the two of them attending prom together in their teenage years.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of prom
Verb
  • Hall has largely stepped away from Hollywood in recent years.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Could the school really be permitted to screen applicants to make sure not a single gay student stepped foot on their campus?
    — Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of step
Verb
  • Raymond darted 39 yards on the play — which officially counted as a run — to set up D’Andre Swift’s game-sealing touchdown.
    — Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Reacting to the obstacle darting out into the road, the bus driver hit the brakes, sending passengers tumbling.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of dart
Noun
  • The city will soon be holding advisory meetings to develop the list of events and festivals that will occur in the next 12 months.
    — John Ramos, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Indians kick off Diwali festivities The Associated Press Diwali is the most important festival of the year in India, particularly for Hindus, and widely marked by prayers, family gatherings and the lighting of fireworks.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of festival
Verb
  • Those who thought the Los Angeles Dodgers and their massive payroll were going to waltz into Milwaukee and run over the Brewers were wrong.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • From Hannah Brown to Joey Graziadei to Tyler Cameron, Dancing With the Stars has seen more than a few Bachelor Nation alums waltz their way through the competition, but there’s a reason JoJo Fletcher hasn’t made it to the dance floor… yet.
    — Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of waltz
Verb
  • Fireflies flit along her path, guiding her toward the safety of her parents’ outstretched arms.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, flit between the two productions.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of flit
Noun
  • Sunday jazz brunches are something of a local institution, drawing Nairobi families for celebrations—the sign of a great city hotel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Four months later, Peter reaches out to an estranged Wendy with an invitation to his annual Scary New Year celebration at his parents’ remote cabin.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of celebration
Verb
  • Findings of no effect tend to either be shuffled off to low-profile journals or left behind as unpublished lab lore.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026
  • For the most part, this was a second consecutive solid performance by a group that will likely undergo major personnel shuffling all season.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of shuffle

Phrases Containing dance

Browse Nearby Words

dam (up)
dance
dance attendance (upon)
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Cite this Entry

“Dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dance. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dance

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dance

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