dancing

verb

present participle of dance
1
as in stepping
to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music she can't resist dancing to her favorite rock bands

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in darting
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 dancing The all-singing, all-dancing comedy drama will also debut in China on Tencent Kids, Youku Kids and BesTV (dates still to be confirmed). — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 And then the other thing was that my friends who were in the audience told me that people in the audience were making out, not only dancing, but actually making out. — Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026 Upon entering the room, Brando put on a radio, and the two started dancing. — David Morgan, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 But dancers take the stage too because when Cubans play music, there will assuredly be dancing. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 30 Sep. 2026 Instead, everyone in the main room is dancing under a glistening disco ball to the syncopations of Riva, a three-piece comprised of a psychedelic saxophonist, drummer and keyboardist. — Mary Carreon, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 It’s been said that writing about music is like dancing about architecture. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026 Schoonmaker’s inventiveness produced one of the movie’s most memorable scenes, where Turturro and Eric Stoltz’s characters talk while dancing. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 29 Sep. 2026 After dancing a promising cha-cha on week 1, Bersten and his season 35 partner, Giada De Laurentiis, found themselves in the bottom three following a disappointing salsa. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dancing
  1. stepping
  2. darting
  3. strutting
  4. flitting
  5. shuffling
  6. fluttering
  7. flicking
  8. flying
Verb
  • The combination of Rykman's extended jams, psychedelic light show and joyous energy made the concert feel less like simply watching a band perform and more like temporarily stepping away for the normal day-to-day.
    — Steve Spaleta, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • And yet, what reaction is more gratifying than residents of all stripes stepping outside to do something about it?
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of stepping
Verb
  • Thank you to the San Francisco Zoo for their expertise darting the lion and documenting the scene.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
  • One TikTok of the scrappy piggy dodging cars and darting between would-be animal rescuers’ legs racked up nearly a half million views.
    — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of darting
Verb
  • In the new update, Jordan is playing Tubbs while Butler is playing Crockett, the two swagger-strutting detectives.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Several photos and videos of her strutting down the runway at PrettyLittleThing’s Miami Swim Week event went viral in early June 2026, sparking conversation about her transformation.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of strutting
Verb
  • Upon further review of the camera footage, Sam Gough, a park supervisor for the Incline Village General Improvement District, said the light appeared to be just a bug flitting across the lens.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • An airy, not-too-sweet vanilla like Taunt is the perfect encapsulation of a Gemini who’s always flitting from one topic of interest to the next.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 14 July 2026
Definition of flitting
Verb
  • At the end of all that immersiveness, exiting out onto the physical street to join the crowds of shuffling tourists and fend off sullen Elmos makes Times Square feel like the soul of authenticity.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026
  • An offseason filled with roster shuffling continued Tuesday for the Charlotte Hornets, who completed a three-player deal with Atlanta to land another guard with perimeter shooting potential.
    — Staff reports, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of shuffling
Verb
  • Of course, her arms matched the uninterrupted movement of her hair, fluttering in front of the cameras.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Tribute upon floral tribute—their petals, leaves, and memorial cards fluttering in the gentle breeze.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fluttering
Verb
  • Coming for a variety of longtime critics of the merger, opposition rose and suspicion about the settlement served to pour gasoline on an already flicking fire.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
  • He’s getting hit sometimes, and just flicking this ball out there.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of flicking
Verb
  • Bombers flying from South Dakota to targets in Iran would cost more in fuel and flying time than those taking off from England's Cotswolds region, which is 3,900 miles closer to Tehran.
    — Steve Hendrix, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Experts who study bats say that, although residents should practice caution, the odds of getting rabies from the flying creatures remain very low.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of flying

Browse Nearby Words

dances attendance (upon)
dancing
dancing attendance (upon)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dancing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dancing. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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