dance

UK: /ˈdɑːns/ US: /dæns/ ,(dans, däns)

Inflections of 'dance' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

dances

v 3rd person singular

dancing

v pres p

danced

v past

danced

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dance /dæns/   v., danced, danc•ing, n. 
v. 

1. Music and Dance to move following a rhythm and in a pattern of steps, esp. to the accompaniment of music: [no object]
   She danced in the best Broadway shows.
   [~ + object]
   She danced every dance with him.
2. to leap, skip, etc., as from excitement or emotion;
   move nimbly or quickly:
   [no object] We danced for joy.
3. to bob up and down;
   move lightly and quickly:
   [no object] The toy sailboats danced on the pond.

n. 

4. Music and Dance [countable] a series of steps or bodily motions following a rhythm and usually done to music.
5. Music and Dance a round of dancing;
   set:
   [countable] May I have this dance?
6. Music and Dance the art of dancing:
   [uncountable] to study dance.
7. a social gathering or party for dancing;
   ball:
   [countable] I met her at a high-school dance.

Idioms

8. Idioms dance attendance on, [~ + object] to pay a great deal of attention to (someone) with a great show of doing so:
   dancing attendance on her boss.

danc•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dance  (dans, däns), v., danced, danc•ing, n. 
v.i. 

1. to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, esp. to the accompaniment of music.
2. to leap, skip, etc., as from excitement or emotion;
   move nimbly or quickly:
   to dance with joy.
3. to bob up and down:
   The toy sailboats danced on the pond.

v.t. 

4. to perform or take part in (a dance):
   to dance a waltz.
5. to cause to dance:
   He danced her around the ballroom.
6. to cause to be in a specified condition by dancing:
   She danced her way to stardom.
7. Idioms dance attendance. See attendance (def. 4).
8. dance on air, [Slang.] to be hanged.
9. Idioms dance to another tune, to change one's behavior, attitudes, etc.

n. 

10. Music and Dance a successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music.
11. Music and Dance an act or round of dancing;
    set:
    May I have this dance?
12. Music and Dance the art of dancing:
    to study dance.
13. a social gathering or party for dancing;
    ball:
    Was he invited to the dance?
14. Music and Dance a piece of music suited in rhythm or style to a particular form of dancing:
    He liked the composer's country dances.
15. [Animal Behav.] a stylized pattern of movements performed by an animal, as a bird in courtship display, or an insect, as a honeybee in indicating a source of nectar.
16. Music and Dance the dance, ballet, interpretive dancing, and other dancing of an artistic nature performed by professional dancers before an audience.

• Anglo-French; Old French dance, derivative of dancier
• Old High German *dansjan to lead (someone) to a dance; (noun, nominal) Middle English da(u)nce
• Anglo-French dancer, dauncer, Old French dancier, perh.
• (verb, verbal) Middle English da(u)ncen 1250–1300

danc′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. cavort, caper, frolic, gambol, prance.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dance / dɑːns/ verb

1. (intransitive) to move the feet and body rhythmically, esp in time to music
2. (transitive) to perform (a particular dance)
3. (intransitive) to skip or leap, as in joy, etc
4. to move or cause to move in a light rhythmic way
5. dance attendance on someone ⇒ to attend someone solicitously or obsequiously

noun

1. a series of rhythmic steps and movements, usually in time to music
2. an act of dancing
3. a social meeting arranged for dancing; ball
4. (as modifier): a dance hall
5. a piece of music in the rhythm of a particular dance form, such as a waltz
6. dancelike movements made by some insects and birds, esp as part of a behaviour pattern
7. lead someone a dance ⇒ to cause someone continued worry and exasperation; play up

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French dancier

ˈdanceable adjective

ˈdancer noun

ˈdancing noun , adjective