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
Sullivan’s Anne first aired on PBS the very same night, for instance, that the erotic multicultural dance fable Flashdance was first shown on network TV. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026 Jig will center on best friends Cara and Fletcher, who are part of a struggling dance school in Derry that aims for the world championships in Irish dancing. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
One of the main attractions on Wednesday was the booth of Unitree, one of China’s leading humanoid robot makers, where some of its models boxed and danced. — E. Eduardo Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Becky Lucas went 1,251 miles from London to Iceland’s solated Westfjords to dance a few days away. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 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
  • Both Heintz and Moser posted Instagram pictures of themselves in happier times, 11 weeks ago, going to a high school prom.
    — David K. Li, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Two teenagers are taking their creativity to the next level with impressive prom dress and prom tux creations, both made out of duct tape.
    — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of prom
Verb
  • That year, Beard needed to temporarily step away from the road for an undisclosed medical problem reportedly involving his foot and ankle.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Freedom responded and stepped toward the floor, prompting security to intervene and usher the 11-year NBA veteran out as the Chicago crowd rained down boos.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of step
Verb
  • Agustin Ojeda tapped a pass to Nicolas Fernandez near the right sideline and darted toward the end line on the give-and-go.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Swallows—the country's most beloved and recognizable birds—darted past intermittently, a subtle but very real reminder of our location on this special stretch of the Algarve.
    — Megan Wilkes, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of dart
Noun
  • The Deauville Industry Days sidebar, taking place over two days at the festival being held at the French seaside town, will incorporate various talks, panels and sessions.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
  • For over 70 years, the Cannes Lions festival has welcomed marketing and advertising suits to the South of France for a week of schmoozing and dealmaking.
    — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of festival
Verb
  • Jey Uso lost to Oba Femi and decided to waltz over to SmackDown to try to get a shot at Zayn’s title.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026
  • Sweden waltzed to a 5-1 victory against Tunisia in its opener, with its forward line of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres capitalizing on some poor defending.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
Definition of waltz
Verb
  • For Hand-Painted Detail Versatile and timeless, this duo of hand-painted, ceramic platters can easily flit between casual family breakfasts and evenings hosting at home with a pile of hors d'oeuvres.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
  • By the front door, a hummingbird repeatedly flitted to the tubular magenta blooms of the Salvia spathacea.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of flit
Noun
  • Jake was at Los Angeles’ Union Station for a celebration of life event for a friend when his sister called.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The shows are billed as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of debut LP Reasonable Doubt, which kicked off the 56-year-old’s illustrious career in 1996.
    — Sophie Williams, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of celebration
Verb
  • Since Brian Schottenheimer lasted six years, from 2006 until 2011, the Jets have shuffled through 10 offensive coordinators (including Reich), and none lasted for more than two seasons.
    — Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The line shuffles forward quickly, and my heart knots in my chest as Heartfillers are dosed to each person up ahead.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 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 29 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dance

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dance

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