pounced; pouncing
1
a
: to swoop upon and seize something with or as if with talons
b
: to seize upon and make capital of something (such as another's blunder or an opportunity)
2
: to make a sudden assault or approach
pounced; pouncing
: to dust, rub, finish, or stencil with pounce
1
: a fine powder formerly used to prevent ink from spreading
2
: a fine powder for making stenciled patterns
Synonyms
Examples of pounce in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the muggers pounced on the unsuspecting tourists as soon as they rounded the corner
Recent Examples on the Web
Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
While their home ownership stagnated this past year, Gen Zers were able to pounce on the pandemic-era record lows a couple of years ago, according to the real-estate company.
—Bychloe Berger, Fortune, 2 May 2024
That’s when Hamadeh pounced on Masters, gesturing to the 2022 election cycle when Hamadeh ran for Arizona attorney general and Masters ran for the U.S. Senate, both unsuccessfully.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 2 May 2024
And when Mitch White became available, the Giants pounced to add the 29-year-old righty at the cost of Cobb’s efforts to race back.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 21 Apr. 2024
National Democrats, meanwhile, are quick to pounce when Trump goes off the rails at his rallies.
—The Courier-Journal, 17 Apr. 2024
The Braves then pounced on the Marlins’ bullpen, scoring five runs in the seventh inning against George Soriano and Andrew Nardi to put the game out of reach.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2024
Flores pounced on a rebound inside the box, smashing a side-volley with his right foot into the back of the net.
—Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2024
When news began percolating Friday that Biden was hinting at more student debt relief this week, critics were quick to pounce.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
Ram Charan, Fortune, 7 May 2024
The dresser, Jenny Holzer, has spent her career composing koan-like phrases and turning them into signs that lurk in museums and public places, waiting to pounce.
—The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024
Our tester cats went wild for this laser toy from Amazon, and watching our kitty pounce around the room chasing the red dot was almost too cute for words.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024
Primed like Pavlov’s dog to salivate or rage at the mere mention of Yale, our society pounces at any opportunity to peel back the curtain on Yalie lifestyles.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 20 Oct. 2023
After all, a line of tech bros, arms akimbo and waiting to pounce can be intimidating at worst and off-putting at best.
—Al Kingsley, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
When an opportunity to open a flower shop in Harlem arises, Ricki pounces on the chance.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2024
Anyone can see that cats that are well fed still pounce on small moving objects, and that cats can lead healthy and seemingly contented lives indoors.
—Jonathan Franzen, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2023
Rather than running after their meals, however, leopards sneak towards prey and pounce, ambushing them from the treetops or other hideouts.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2023
Verb
The National Republican Congressional Committee, the campaign arm of House Republicans, swiftly pounced on word of the indictment and urged House Democrats to call on their colleague to resign.
—Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
While their home ownership stagnated this past year, Gen Zers were able to pounce on the pandemic-era record lows a couple of years ago, according to the real-estate company.
—Bychloe Berger, Fortune, 2 May 2024
That’s when Hamadeh pounced on Masters, gesturing to the 2022 election cycle when Hamadeh ran for Arizona attorney general and Masters ran for the U.S. Senate, both unsuccessfully.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 2 May 2024
And when Mitch White became available, the Giants pounced to add the 29-year-old righty at the cost of Cobb’s efforts to race back.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 21 Apr. 2024
National Democrats, meanwhile, are quick to pounce when Trump goes off the rails at his rallies.
—The Courier-Journal, 17 Apr. 2024
The Braves then pounced on the Marlins’ bullpen, scoring five runs in the seventh inning against George Soriano and Andrew Nardi to put the game out of reach.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2024
Flores pounced on a rebound inside the box, smashing a side-volley with his right foot into the back of the net.
—Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2024
When news began percolating Friday that Biden was hinting at more student debt relief this week, critics were quick to pounce.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
Noun
Under their influence, the whole culture becomes flexible, and people are more willing to do the right thing as well as pounce on opportunities.
—Ram Charan, Fortune, 7 May 2024
The dresser, Jenny Holzer, has spent her career composing koan-like phrases and turning them into signs that lurk in museums and public places, waiting to pounce.
—The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024
Our tester cats went wild for this laser toy from Amazon, and watching our kitty pounce around the room chasing the red dot was almost too cute for words.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024
Primed like Pavlov’s dog to salivate or rage at the mere mention of Yale, our society pounces at any opportunity to peel back the curtain on Yalie lifestyles.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 20 Oct. 2023
After all, a line of tech bros, arms akimbo and waiting to pounce can be intimidating at worst and off-putting at best.
—Al Kingsley, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
When an opportunity to open a flower shop in Harlem arises, Ricki pounces on the chance.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2024
Anyone can see that cats that are well fed still pounce on small moving objects, and that cats can lead healthy and seemingly contented lives indoors.
—Jonathan Franzen, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2023
Rather than running after their meals, however, leopards sneak towards prey and pounce, ambushing them from the treetops or other hideouts.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pounce.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pounce
Cite this Entry
“Pounce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pounce. Accessed 10 May. 2024.
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