prance

[ prans, prahns ]

verb (used without object)

, pranced, pranc·ing.

1. to spring from the hind legs; to move by springing, as a horse.
2. to ride on a horse doing this.
3. to ride gaily, proudly, or insolently.
4. to move or go in an elated manner; cavort.

   Synonyms: frisk, frolic, romp, skip, leap, gambol

5. to dance or move in a lively or spirited manner; caper.

   Synonyms: frisk, frolic, romp, skip, leap, gambol

verb (used with object)

, pranced, pranc·ing.

1. to cause to prance.

noun

1. the act of prancing; a prancing movement.

prance

/ prɑːns /

verb

1. intr to swagger or strut
2. intr to caper, gambol, or dance about
3. intr
   1. (of a horse) to move with high lively springing steps
   2. to ride a horse that moves in this way
4. tr to cause to prance

noun

1. the act or an instance of prancing

Derived Forms

• ˈprancer, noun
• ˈprancingly, adverb

Other Words From

• prancer noun
• prancing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prance¹

1325–75; Middle English prauncen, praunsen (v.); akin to Danish (dial.) pransk spirited, said of a horse

Word History and Origins

Origin of prance¹

C14 prauncen; perhaps related to German prangen to be in full splendour; compare Danish (dialect) pransk lively, spirited, used of a horse

Example Sentences

At times he’d be overcome by sudden ecstasy and prance about on high rocks, or skip along the limbs of trees, shouting meaningless syllables.

From Literature

In a video posted earlier this week and captured by TMZ, Kid Cudi said with a chuckle, “This is what happens when a 40-year-old man tries to prance around offstage like he’s 26, like he used to do back in the day.”

From Los Angeles Times

In a video posted the same day and captured by TMZ, he said with a chuckle, “This is what happens when a 40-year-old man tries to prance around off stage like he’s 26, like he used to do back in the day.”

From Los Angeles Times

Some people take this stuff way too seriously and kind of prance around the ring.

From Salon

Professor Robert Prance and Professor Daniel Roggen, of the University of Sussex, have developed the use of electric waves, rather than electromagnetic waves, for a low-power way to transmit data at close range, while maintaining the high throughput needed for multimedia applications.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• gambol
• sashay
• strut
• swagger