prance

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /pɹæn(t)s/ UK /pɹɑːn(t)s/ See IPA manual

Freq #34071

Meanings

1

verb
To walk or move around proudly, trying to be noticed.

He pranced around the room in his new suit.
2

verb
(of a horse) To move with high, lively steps.

The horse pranced across the field.
3

noun
A proud, showy way of moving.

There was a little prance of triumph in his step.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to walk or move around... strut

3 noun · a proud, showy way of moving. strut

Word family

Forms prancedprancesprancing

Derived forms prancefulprancerprancesomeprancy

Etymology

From Middle English prancen, prauncen (“to prance”, literally “to show off”), variant of Middle English pranken (“to prank”), thus probably from the same ultimate root as prank. Cognate with Bavarian prangezen, prangssen (“to put on airs”), Alemannic German pranzen (“to strut”).

prancen Middle English pranken Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# prance

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /pɹæn(t)s/
**IPA (UK):** /pɹɑːn(t)s/
**Frequency rank:** 34071

## Meanings
1. To walk or move around proudly, trying to be noticed.
2. (of a horse) To move with high, lively steps.
3. A proud, showy way of moving.

## Examples
- He pranced around the room in his new suit.
- The horse pranced across the field.
- There was a little prance of triumph in his step.

## Derived Forms
- pranceful
- prancer
- prancesome
- prancy

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: prancen
- Root: pranken

## Etymology
From Middle English prancen, prauncen (“to prance”, literally “to show off”), variant of Middle English pranken (“to prank”), thus probably from the same ultimate root as prank. Cognate with Bavarian prangezen, prangssen (“to put on airs”), Alemannic German pranzen (“to strut”).

## AI Etymology
Prance comes from Middle English prancen, prauncen (“to prance”, literally “to show off”), variant of Middle English pranken (“to prank”), thus probably from the same ultimate root as prank. Cognate with Bavarian prangezen, prangssen (“to put on airs”), Alemannic German pranzen (“to strut”). In present-day English it covers to walk or move around proudly, trying to be noticed, (of a horse) To move with high, lively steps, and a proud, showy way of moving. The wider family includes derived forms such as pranceful, prancer, prancesome, prancy.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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