proud

[ proud ]

adjective

, proud·er, proud·est.

1. feeling pleasure or satisfaction over something regarded as highly honorable or creditable to oneself (often followed by of, an infinitive, or a clause).

   Synonyms: self-satisfied, contented

   Antonyms: dissatisfied

2. having, proceeding from, or showing a high opinion of one's own dignity, importance, or superiority.

   Synonyms: presumptuous, imperious, disdainful, self-important, overbearing

   Antonyms: humble

3. having or showing self-respect or self-esteem.
4. highly gratifying to the feelings or self-esteem:

   It was a proud day for him when his son entered college.

5. highly honorable or creditable:

   a proud achievement.

   Antonyms: dishonorable

6. stately, majestic, or magnificent:

   proud cities.

   Synonyms: splendid, imposing, noble

   Antonyms: lowly, impoverished, mean

7. of lofty dignity or distinction:

   a proud name; proud nobles.

8. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. pleased; happy:

   I'm proud to meet you.

9. full of vigor and spirit:

   a proud young stallion.

10. Obsolete. brave.

proud

/ praʊd /

adjective

1. foll byof, an infinitive, or a clause pleased or satisfied, as with oneself, one's possessions, achievements, etc, or with another person, his or her achievements, qualities, etc
2. feeling honoured or gratified by or as if by some distinction
3. having an inordinately high opinion of oneself; arrogant or haughty
4. characterized by or proceeding from a sense of pride

   a proud moment

5. having a proper sense of self-respect
6. stately or distinguished
7. bold or fearless
8. (of a surface, edge, etc) projecting or protruding from the surrounding area
9. (of animals) restive or excited, esp sexually; on heat

adverb

1. do someone proud
   1. to entertain someone on a grand scale

      they did us proud at the hotel

   2. to honour or distinguish a person

      his honesty did him proud

Derived Forms

• ˈproudly, adverb
• ˈproudness, noun

Other Words From

• proudly adverb
• proudness noun
• un·proud adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of proud¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English prūd, prūt “arrogant” (cognate with Old Norse prūthr “stately, fine”), apparently from Vulgar Latin; compare Old French prud, prod “gallant, virtuous,” Late Latin prōde “profitable, useful,” from prōde est, back formation of Latin prōdest “it is beneficial, useful,” from Latin prōdesse “to be useful, profit”

Word History and Origins

Origin of proud¹

Late Old English prūd, from Old French prud, prod brave, from Late Latin prōde useful, from Latin prōdesse to be of value, from prōd-, variant of prō- for + esse to be

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. do one proud,
   1. to be a source of pride or credit to a person:

      His conduct in such a difficult situation did him proud.

   2. to treat someone or oneself generously or lavishly:

      You really did us proud with this supper.

More idioms and phrases containing proud

In addition to the idiom beginning with proud , also see do someone proud .

Synonym Study

Proud, arrogant, haughty imply a consciousness of, or a belief in, one's superiority in some respect. Proud implies sensitiveness, lofty self-respect, or jealous preservation of one's dignity, station, and the like. It may refer to an affectionate admiration of or a justifiable pride concerning someone else: proud of his son. Arrogant applies to insolent or overbearing behavior, arising from an exaggerated belief in one's importance: arrogant rudeness. Haughty implies lofty reserve and confident, often disdainful assumption of superiority over others: the haughty manner of the butler in the play.

Example Sentences

I’m proud to teach at a school where we’ve taken the concerns and views of our parents seriously and better yet, taken action.

From Voice of San Diego

I was fully convinced that we were all doomed to be outsiders for our entire lives, and secretly, I was kind of proud of that.

From Fortune

For performance management, we decided to combine it with our goals and ask employees to tell us what three to five things they are most proud of, and what they need more or less of from their manager.

From Fortune

What stuck out to me, too, was how proud it seemed like the former players were of the current players for taking this stand.

From FiveThirtyEight

He was proud of what he believed in, he stood up for it, and he fought for it.

From Ozy

I had wanted to give him something, something to make him proud.

From The Daily Beast

But that makes the Ismael brothers no less proud of the resistance that they and other fellow fighters have put up.

From The Daily Beast

She added: “NBC News is proud to have David in the important anchor chair of ‘Meet the Press.’ ”

From The Daily Beast

We proud skeptics would rather trust the demonstrable facts than the alleged truth.

From The Daily Beast

Hitchcock is very proud of his kitchen; he's comfortable here.

From The Daily Beast

I, therefore, deliver it as a maxim, that whoever desires the character of a proud man ought to conceal his vanity.

From Project Gutenberg

You never cared—you were too proud to care; and when I spoke to you about my fault, you did n't even know what I meant.

From Project Gutenberg

To be so humbled in the knowledge of any living being, was the vultures of Prometheus to the proud heart of Ripperda.

From Project Gutenberg

You may imagine the effect this missive produced upon the proud, high-minded doctor of divinity.

From Project Gutenberg

"I'm not proud," replied Davy, provoked at being mixed up with Gobobbles in this way.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• appreciative
• glad
• great
• honored
• illustrious
• noble
• satisfied