prone

UK: /ˈprəʊn/ US: /proʊn/ ,(prōn)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

prone¹ /proʊn/   adj. 

1. having a natural tendency toward something;
   disposed;
   liable;
   likely to suffer from:
   [be + ~ + to] was prone to anger.
2. having the front of the body downward;
   lying facedown.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

prone¹  (prōn), adj. 

1. having a natural inclination or tendency to something;
   disposed;
   liable:
   to be prone to anger.
2. having the front or ventral part downward;
   lying face downward.
3. lying flat;
   prostrate.
4. Physiology having a downward direction or slope.
5. Physiology having the palm downward, as the hand.

• Latin prōnus turned or leaning forward, inclined downward, disposed, prone
• Middle English 1350–1400

prone′ly, adv. 
prone′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. apt, subject, tending.
• 3. recumbent.

prone²  (prōn), n. 

1. Religion a sermon or a brief hortatory introduction to a sermon, usually delivered at a service at which the Eucharist is celebrated.

• French prône grill, grating (separating chancel from nave); so called because notices and addresses were delivered there
• 1660–70

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

prone / prəʊn/ adjective

1. lying flat or face downwards; prostrate
2. sloping or tending downwards
3. having an inclination to do something

verb

1. (transitive) to place in a prone position

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin prōnus bent forward, from pro-¹

ˈpronely adverb

ˈproneness noun

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

-prone combining_form:in_adjective

1. liable or disposed to suffer: accident-prone