dance

1 of 2

verb

ˈdan(t)s

ˈdän(t)s

danced; dancing

Synonyms of dance next

intransitive verb

: to move one's body rhythmically usually to music : to engage in or perform a dance (see dance entry 2 sense 2)

dancing to our favorite song

Shall we dance?

: to move or seem to move up and down or about in a quick or lively manner

dance for joy

leaves dancing in the wind

transitive verb

: to perform or take part in as a dancer

dance the waltz

: to cause to dance

danced the baby on her knee

: to bring into a specified condition by dancing

danced his way into her heart

danceable

ˈdan(t)-sə-bəl

adjective

dancer noun

dance

2 of 2

noun

often attributive

: an act or instance of moving one's body rhythmically usually to music : an act or instance of dancing (see dance entry 1 sense 1)

the couple's first dance as husband and wife

May I have this dance?

: a series of rhythmic and patterned bodily movements usually performed to music

slow dances

dance moves

: a social gathering for dancing

a high school dance

: a piece of music by which dancing may be guided

: the art of dancing

studied dance in college

Phrases

dance attendance

: to attend in an eager and servile manner

a celebrity used to having people dance attendance on him

Example Sentences

Verb He never learned how to dance. She has always loved to dance. I like the song but it's really hard to dance to. He danced her across the floor. She dances with a famous ballet company. She's a great actress, and she can dance and sing, too. Noun They can do all the popular dances. The only dance he knows how to do is the twist. How about one more dance? He stopped right in the middle of the dance to tie his shoe. He did a celebration dance in the end zone after scoring the touchdown. She studied dance in college. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Footage of Lively dancing exuberantly in the crowd popped up on social media. —

Kim Willis, USA TODAY, 14 May 2023 Deafening 900-horsepower engines breathe fire and overpower giant tires as the lightweight cars dance on the edge of control on moistened clay. —

Dave Kallmann, Journal Sentinel, 14 May 2023 Ziva, a bubbly gymnast in constant motion — bouncing, singing, dancing — would run from one side of the living room to the other. —

Kyle Neddenriep, The Indianapolis Star, 14 May 2023 Here's her best friend Caligula dancing in front of her and then Walter comes out. —

Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 12 May 2023 Creators of colors face higher hurdles in terms of compensation, following, brand fees, or even something as simple as getting credit for a viral trend or dance. —

Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2023 The three ladies dance as a vibey track plays out, featuring two voices that sound an awful lot like Jennie Kim and Abel Tesfaye’s. —

Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 10 May 2023 And so, of course, AI’s makers come for it first, seeking at long last to reveal the trick at the center of art, the proof that the idea of romantic genius and inspiration is a glib illusion, a grift meant to shame and embarrass everyone who can’t draw or dance or write a good sentence. —

Phillip Maciak, The New Republic, 9 May 2023 After dancing a strategic waltz around the status of their relationship all season long, Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook) and Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) finally decided to confront one another and clear the air. —

Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 May 2023

Noun

These will fit in seamlessly when hiking upstate, though the name is also inspiring me to take these for a spin at a dance class. —

Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2023 Even at an unhurried pace that lets the music dance, it’s done in 10 minutes. —

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 25 May 2023 But this weekend also brings plenty of fun, from the cookouts and dance parties of Black Pride to the Hometown Holidays music and food festival in Rockville. —

Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 25 May 2023 When was the first homecoming, and what’s the story behind the big game and the quirky traditions like homecoming dance themes? —

Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, 24 May 2023 Milwaukee rappers frequently post their own off-the-cuff dances to their tracks. —

Journal Sentinel, 16 May 2023 The tech titan had enjoyed a set from Australian dance group Rufus du Sol at the Sundream festival in Mexico the night before, with footage surfacing online of Musk bopping away into the early hours of the morning at the luxury resort of Cabo San Lucas. —

Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 May 2023 The program includes dance, text, video and an exploration of culture on dating, clubbing and materialism. —

Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2023 As the 1933 Fair was planned, the closest thing to a women’s exhibit would have been the epidermis Sally Rand revealed during her notorious fan dance. —

Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.