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

Its AI quirks "might indeed be actually part of the appeal, as they make it funnier, more bizarre, and potentially more engaging -- even if prone to mockery and hate-watching".

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

“I don’t think this is a rally to really trust,” Melson said, noting that month-end and quarter-end periods can also be prone to exaggerated moves.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

The market is being pulled in different directions and is prone to event-driven swings, with higher fuel costs supporting prices, Nanhua Futures analysts say in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

And Snoeijs admits athletes are particularly prone to soldiering on.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

He plowed his fingers through the heap of plastic soldiers in the battered cookie tin—identical except for their poses: standing, kneeling, and prone, all with rifles pressed hard to their olive-green cheeks.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

Related Words

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