as in proms
a social gathering for dancing
who are you taking to the dance on Saturday night?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in steps
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 darts
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 dances
Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
After all the dances and the scores combined from the last two weeks, Richter remained on the bottom of the leaderboard, with Leavitt returning to the top.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
Couple dances will include the Argentine Tango, Contemporary, Foxtrot, Jazz, Rumba and Quickstep.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Barbara Jones Outshine Talent Group Jones discovered Charli D’Amelio back when the TikTok star was just a young girl doing dances in her room in Connecticut.
—Taylor Lorenz, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
In addition to seeing a fantastic display of more than 15,000 lanterns strung above the streets and across canal bridges, attendees can also expect Chinese lion and dragon dances, an Emperor’s parade, and even acrobatic shows.
—Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025
Spectacular color, mystical chants and rhythmic dances fill the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee’s annual powwow each year for three days in October.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Oct. 2025
And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.
—K.j.s. “sunny” Anand, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
James dances toward the mike, stops sharp, and somehow, at the exact same second, the band stops.
—Touré, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
The flame also dances back and forth for an even more convincing look.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025
For the song’s visuals, the two stand above the empty swimming pool as a woman dances at the center.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
In the final seconds of the Sex and the City revival series, Carrie dances down the hallway of her Gramercy Park townhome in a flirty outfit while Barry White plays, embracing her singledom.
—Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
The djembe is a speaking drum, used historically in African villages to relay messages and information across the environment, and it’s used to lead dances, telling dancers when to change a step, start, and end.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
After all the dances and the scores combined from the last two weeks, Richter remained on the bottom of the leaderboard, with Leavitt returning to the top.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
Couple dances will include the Argentine Tango, Contemporary, Foxtrot, Jazz, Rumba and Quickstep.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Barbara Jones Outshine Talent Group Jones discovered Charli D’Amelio back when the TikTok star was just a young girl doing dances in her room in Connecticut.
—Taylor Lorenz, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
In addition to seeing a fantastic display of more than 15,000 lanterns strung above the streets and across canal bridges, attendees can also expect Chinese lion and dragon dances, an Emperor’s parade, and even acrobatic shows.
—Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025
Spectacular color, mystical chants and rhythmic dances fill the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee’s annual powwow each year for three days in October.
—Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Oct. 2025
And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.
—K.j.s. “sunny” Anand, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
James dances toward the mike, stops sharp, and somehow, at the exact same second, the band stops.
—Touré, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Another user, @jordynblaine, who dances to the song, seemingly mocking the mother of seven's moves, has already racked up nearly 3 million views.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
The flame also dances back and forth for an even more convincing look.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025
For the song’s visuals, the two stand above the empty swimming pool as a woman dances at the center.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
In the final seconds of the Sex and the City revival series, Carrie dances down the hallway of her Gramercy Park townhome in a flirty outfit while Barry White plays, embracing her singledom.
—Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dances
Verb
-
Marshall Street is the neighborhood’s heartbeat, lined with cafés, collegiate shops, and game-day hangouts, while just steps away, the SU campus has leafy quads, Gothic-style architecture, and cultural institutions like the Syracuse University Art Museum and the JMA Wireless Dome.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Mayer contributes to the song on guitar, Pino Palladino on bass and Foo Fighters legend Dave Grohl steps behind the drums, giving the song its classic sound.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Alex is a cop, and his partner, Dwayne (Brandon Jay McLaren), begins to tell him about how nothing ever happens in the town when Riley, a shoeless bloody escapee from the Tall Pines facility, darts into the road in front of their cruiser.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
-
In a surveillance video released by authorities, Robinson allegedly darts across the roof after firing the single shot, jimmies down to a ledge and jumps to the grass below.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As one of Middle Tennessee’s largest fall festivals, the event is packed with family-friendly activities, live music, costume contests for pets and families, shopping, arts & crafts, and more.—
Gabrielle Chenault,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
-
That legacy of engagement still defines Valladolid today, keeping Seminci vital as one of Europe’s most socially-aware auteur festivals.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The episode’s first half feels like the work of a misguided pest, and Beto’s filmmaking, which flits between several different styles and cuts between multiple angles sometimes within the course of one interview segment, doesn’t help.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Happy belated birthday to Ashanti and cheers to many more island celebrations with family and friends!—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Vilnius kicks off its Christmas celebrations on November 29 with the lighting of its Cathedral Square tree, whose design and size change every year.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Gakpo is deeper, and Wirtz pushes forward as the central member of Liverpool’s forward line, while Ekitike shuffles across as the left of the trio.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Because global air travel shuffles millions of people around the world daily, an outbreak of a very contagious disease anywhere can become a threat everywhere.—
Amy E. Stambach,
The Conversation,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Spooky celebrators get to partake in Halloween festivities on a Friday this year, offering a change of pace from years past when the holiday falls before a work or school day.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Kansas City native, Pyet DeSpain grew up with food at the center of many cultural festivities.—
J.M. Banks,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At the Barclays, Ellie struts the halls—all eyes are on her and her entourage.—
Marc Williams,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The only actor who looks at home here is Chloë Sevigny as Kim, the resident Yale Philosophy Department psychotherapist, who struts through the movie in a series of baggy suits and a curly bowl haircut that wouldn’t be out of place on the Beverly Hillbillies’ Miss Jane Hathaway.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dances. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share