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 Temwa Chawinga, who plays for the Kansas City Current in the NWSL, logged her fifth goal of the tournament, dancing around falling Algerian goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi and scoring into the open net in first-half stoppage time. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 Totality also brought glimpses of pinkish-red prominences—fountains of plasma arcing above the sun’s surface, dancing at the moon’s edge. — Claire Cameron & Lee Billings, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026 From electric live performances and iconic stage sets to crowds dancing under fog, these images highlight the vibrant spirit of the weekend. — Ray Chavez, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 But sometimes, the editing steps outside that space – for instance, showing us all the players dancing, but omitting the music they’re being fed via earwig. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026 When people were dancing at gay clubs and tipping drag queens in June, that was actually during National LGBTQ+ Pride Month. — Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026 Powell and Randolph were first linked after they were seen dancing together in Powell’s hometown of Austin, Texas, in a TikTok video. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026 The Rolling Stones star, who just turned 83 in late July, shared a video on his Instagram of himself dancing with his hands up under a disco ball in what appears to be a club. — Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 Married couple Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita are dancing into the microseries space. — Peter White, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dancing
  1. stepping
  2. darting
  3. strutting
  4. flitting
  5. shuffling
  6. fluttering
  7. flicking
  8. flying
Verb
  • Research has shown that meaningful social relationships are an important part of overall health and, for some participants, simply stepping outside their comfort zones can be a confidence boost.
    — Kaitlyn Harvey, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Bryce Eldridge started his day by turning a one-man double play at first base after handling a sharp grounder and tagging out the runner retreating to first while stepping on the bag.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of stepping
Verb
  • Other textiles in the house were found in India, Egypt, and Kuwait, where Consuelo bought a Bedouin tent, soon to be installed among the fig, persimmon, and pomegranate trees—and the darting lizards—in the gardens.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2026
  • This conversation was taking place in Jaya Aunty’s living room, and Nidhi’s eyes kept darting about.
    — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of darting
Verb
  • Jordan is playing Ricardo Tubbs while Butler is playing James Crockett, the two swagger-strutting detectives.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Kio takes in his new surroundings confidently, strutting through the grasses near his den while working on his roar, that is, until a bellowing elephant sends him racing closer to Mom.
    — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 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
  • Keeping your eye on Bredeson is as hard as tracking a ball beneath shuffling cups.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Frank Beard, the longtime, hard-shuffling drummer for Texas rock greats ZZ Top, died on Monday.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of shuffling
Verb
  • For Arbaeen, the lights inside the shrine and the flags fluttering from its golden dome are switched to red – the color of vengeance.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Some people feel a racing heartbeat or fluttering in their chest.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of fluttering
Verb
  • Within a few minutes, Hutchinson has his mobile out, happily flicking through the screensavers.
    — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • His violent men — Scott’s sinister dad and Melton’s sad one — light cigarettes by flicking matches on their ears and teeth.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of flicking
Verb
  • On the other is a relief depiction of a Kremlin in flames, with a drone flying over it.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Over the coming months, avionics, scientific instruments and thermal insulation will gradually transform the frame into the flying science laboratory destined for the outer solar system.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 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 19 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dancing

Nglish: Translation of dancing for Spanish Speakers

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