prance

UK: /ˈprɑːns/, /ˈpræns/ US: /præns/ ,(prans, präns)

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

prances

v 3rd person singular

prancing

v pres p

pranced

v past

pranced

v past p

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

prance /præns/   v., pranced, pranc•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to walk in a proud manner and try to get attention, as by moving with exaggerated steps:
   [no object] She pranced into the room with her high heels clicking.
2. to (cause a horse to) spring from the hind legs, or move by springing: [no object]
   The horse was prancing around the corral.
   [~ + object]
   The rider pranced the horse around the corral.

n. [countable]

3. the act of prancing.

pranc•er, n. [countable]
pranc•ing•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prance  (prans, präns), v., pranced, pranc•ing, n. 
v.i. 

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

v.t. 

6. to cause to prance.

n. 

7. the act of prancing;
   a prancing movement.

• 1325–75; Middle English prauncen, praunsen (verb, verbal); akin to Danish (dialect, dialectal) pransk spirited, said of a horse

pranc′er, n. 
pranc′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 4, 5. gambol, leap, skip, romp, frolic, frisk.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

prance / prɑːns/ verb

1. (intransitive) to swagger or strut
2. (intransitive) to caper, gambol, or dance about
3. (intransitive) (of a horse) to move with high lively springing steps
4. (transitive) to cause to prance

noun

1. the act or an instance of prancing

Etymology: 14th Century prauncen; perhaps related to German prangen to be in full splendour; compare Danish (dialect) pransk lively, spirited, used of a horse

ˈprancer noun

ˈprancingly adverb