pounce C1 Topic:Verbs of Movement US /paʊns/ See IPA manual Freq #20753 Meanings 1 verb To jump suddenly forward to catch or attack someone or something. The cat crouched low and then pounced on the mouse. 2 verb To react instantly to take advantage of something, such as a mistake or chance. Reporters pounced on the slightest inconsistency in his story. 3 noun A sudden spring or leap forward to catch or attack. With one quick pounce, the lion brought down the antelope. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to jump suddenly forward to... jumpleap More attackstrike Word family Forms pouncedpouncespouncing Derived forms pounceablepouncehugpouncerpouncinglypouncy Etymology AI details From Middle English pounce, probably akin to punch. Possibly from Old French ponchonner (compare French poinçonner). pounce Middle English ponchonner Old French View etymology graph -> Topics Verbs of Movement External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # pounce **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** verb, noun **IPA (US):** /paʊns/ **Frequency rank:** 20753 ## Meanings 1. To jump suddenly forward to catch or attack someone or something. 2. To react instantly to take advantage of something, such as a mistake or chance. 3. A sudden spring or leap forward to catch or attack. ## Examples - The cat crouched low and then pounced on the mouse. - Reporters pounced on the slightest inconsistency in his story. - With one quick pounce, the lion brought down the antelope. ## Synonyms - attack - strike ## Derived Forms - pounceable - pouncehug - pouncer - pouncingly - pouncy ## Roots and Affixes - Root: pounce - Root: ponchonner ## Etymology From Middle English pounce, probably akin to punch. Possibly from Old French ponchonner (compare French poinçonner). ## AI Etymology Pounce is from Middle English pounce, probably akin to punch. Possibly from Old French ponchonner (compare French poinçonner). In present-day use, it can mean to jump suddenly forward to catch or attack someone or something, or to react instantly to take advantage of something, such as a mistake or chance. Derived formations include pounceable, pouncehug, pouncer, pouncingly, and pouncy. ## Topics - Verbs of Movement markdown