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 Bardwell went viral during the World Cup for dancing with Algeria fans. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 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 Gabby Williams hopped off a double-decker bus and began dancing through the streets, blowing a whistle to the beat and slapping high-fives with fans all while keeping her WNBA Finals MVP trophy safely tucked in her left arm. — ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026 The lineup featured Jay Wheeler, Zhamira, and Conep, and included lots of singing along and dancing from the crowd. — Billboard Staff, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2026 The result is a quaint and colorful two-bedroom blueprint, with dappled light dancing through the street-facing windows. — Sallie Lewis, Architectural Digest, 3 Nov. 2026 For instance, there’s his portrait of four cheery little brown and white woolly dancing dogs (relatives of today’s bichons and poodles, perhaps) named Lusette, Madore, Rosette, and Moucheby. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026 Her longtime collaborator Guvanch brought it to life over the next two months, also creating a shorter, simplified version for dancing as a wedding gift. — Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026 Walk to Ryman Auditorium, the National Museum of African American Music, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum or spend your time dancing at the hotel itself. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dancing
  1. stepping
  2. darting
  3. strutting
  4. flitting
  5. shuffling
  6. fluttering
  7. flicking
  8. flying
Verb
  • So, Wayne made one of the hardest decisions of his young career, stepping away from the team to redshirt his sophomore season, preserve an extra year of eligibility and enter the transfer portal.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Drive your left knee in toward your chest, then quickly stepping it back to plank position.
    — Sarah Stiefvater, Flow Space, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of stepping
Verb
  • Surfaces glow with darting light, the beehive smoke and silhouettes and flickering neon lulls the viewer to a state conducive to such pondering.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
  • On the next drive, Ford took the snap and bobbled it before securing the ball and darting around the edge to run for a five-yard touchdown.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of darting
Verb
  • At the moment, the good detective is strutting around the float, kicking the wheels and pounding the floorboards.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The Tigers are off to their fourth consecutive 5-1 start under Drinkwitz, and their head coach is definitely strutting his stuff on the microphone week in and week out.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of strutting
Verb
  • Multiple anglers reeled in yellowfin tuna, which were visible through the clear water flitting back and forth near the boat.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of flitting
Verb
  • That's because astronomers have discovered two husks of two zombie planets shuffling through the gory remains of what was once their planetary neighbors around a long-deceased star, or white dwarf.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • In late 2026, reports came out that SpaceX is shuffling its staff in an attempt to focus its resources on developing and commercializing Starship, while phasing out the Falcon 9.
    — Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of shuffling
Verb
  • Related Articles The dress was designed with a flowing sensibility in mind, featuring the Victorian design element of a high collar contrasted by fluttering bohemian shift silhouette, long sleeves and plenty of ruffles on the bodice and skirt.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • To achieve that fluttering action, the material in these baits is very soft.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of fluttering
Verb
  • Instamall plans to keep adding brands, but it is already hooked into the inventory systems of its existing partners, so expanding the service to new cities could be as easy as flicking a switch.
    — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of flicking
Verb
  • In some ways, flying a plane is easier than driving a car, at least as far as automation is concerned.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2026
  • So Argo’s first Chiron mission is flying on an undisclosed new commercial rocket, definitely a calculated risk.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 Nov. 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 6 Nov. 2026.

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