prostrate

UK: adjective: /ˈprɒstreɪt/, verb: /prɒˈstreɪt/

US: /ˈprɑstreɪt/

US: (pros′trāt)

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

prostrates

v 3rd person singular

prostrating

v pres p

prostrated

v past

prostrated

v past p

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

pros•trate /ˈprɑstreɪt/   v., -trat•ed, -trat•ing, adj. 
v. 

1. to throw oneself facedown on the ground, as in submission or adoration:
   [~ + oneself] He prostrated himself before the king.
2. Pathology to reduce to physical weakness:
   [~ + object; usually: be + ~-ed] He was prostrated by the heat.

adj. 

3. lying facedown, as to show submission or adoration.
4. helpless;
   exhausted:
   a country left prostrate by natural disasters.

pros•tra•tion /prɑstreɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pros•trate  (pros′trāt), v., -trat•ed, -trat•ing, adj. 
v.t. 

1. to cast (oneself ) face down on the ground in humility, submission, or adoration.
2. to lay flat, as on the ground.
3. to throw down level with the ground.
4. to overthrow, overcome, or reduce to helplessness.
5. Pathology to reduce to physical weakness or exhaustion.

adj. 

6. lying flat or at full length, as on the ground.
7. lying face down on the ground, as in token of humility, submission, or adoration.
8. overthrown, overcome, or helpless:
   a country left prostrate by natural disasters.
9. physically weak or exhausted.
10. submissive.
11. utterly dejected or depressed; disconsolate.
12. Botany (of a plant or stem) lying flat on the ground.

• Latin prōstrātus, past participle of prōsternere to throw prone, equivalent. to prō- pro-¹ + strā-, variant stem of sternere to stretch out + -tus past participle suffix; (verb, verbal) Middle English prostraten, derivative of the adjective, adjectival
• (adjective, adjectival) Middle English prostrat 1350–1400

pros•tra•tive  (pros′trə tiv), adj.  pros′tra•tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 6. prone, supine, recumbent.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

prostrate adjective / ˈprɒstreɪt/

1. lying with the face downwards, as in submission
2. exhausted physically or emotionally
3. helpless or defenceless
4. (of a plant) growing closely along the ground

verb / prɒˈstreɪt/(transitive)

1. to bow or cast (oneself) down, as in submission
2. to lay or throw down flat, as on the ground
3. to make helpless or defenceless
4. to make exhausted

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin prōsternere to throw to the ground, from prō- before + sternere to lay low

prosˈtration noun