prone

¹ American  

[prohn] / proʊn /

adjective

1. having a natural inclination or tendency to something; disposed; liable.

   to be prone to anger.

   Synonyms:

   subject , apt

2. having the front or ventral part downward; lying face downward.

3. lying flat; prostrate.

   Synonyms:

   recumbent

4. having a downward direction or slope.

5. having the palm downward, as the hand.

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prone ² American  

[prohn] / proʊn /

noun

1. a sermon or a brief hortatory introduction to a sermon, usually delivered at a service at which the Eucharist is celebrated.

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prone ¹ British  

/ prəʊn /

adjective

1. lying flat or face downwards; prostrate

2. sloping or tending downwards

3. having an inclination to do something

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-prone ² British  

combining form

1. liable or disposed to suffer

   accident-prone

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Other Word Forms

• pronely adverb
• proneness noun

Etymology

Origin of prone¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin prōnus “turned or leaning forward, inclined downward, disposed,” adverb based on prō pro ¹ ( def. )

Origin of prone²

First recorded in 1660–70; from French prône “grill, grating (separating chancel from nave),” so called because notices and addresses were delivered there, from Old French prodne, prorne, prosne, by way of a Medieval Latin or Late Latin intermediary such as protinum (unrecorded) from Latin prothyrum “foyer, porch, vestibule,” from Greek próthyron, from pró pro- ² ( def. ) + thýra “door” ( door ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

Since the Vikings selected him with the No. 10 pick in 2024, McCarthy has been injury prone and has struggled even worse when he has actually been on the field.

From The Wall Street Journal

The researchers found that levels of receptors that recognize bacterial toxins rose, making the body more prone to inflammation.

From Science Daily

His death—of natural causes—brought to an end a 36-year period in which a prone and pliant Spain submitted to his authoritarian rule.

From The Wall Street Journal

But they also say he can be difficult—stubborn, prone to drone on in half-hour monologues, and at times naive about geopolitics.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Steelers’ defense has been inconsistent and prone to breakdowns, as we saw last Sunday against Chicago.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apt
• devoted
• exposed
• inclined
• ready
• sensitive
• susceptible
• willing