proud

UK: /ˈpraʊd/ US: /praʊd/ ,(proud)

Inflections of 'proud' (adj):

prouder

adj comparative

proudest

adj superlative

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

proud /praʊd/   adj., -er, -est, adv. 
adj. 

1. feeling pleasure or satisfaction over something thought of as bringing credit or honor to oneself:
   the proud parents of a new baby.
   [be + ~ + of]
   We are proud of our country.
   [be + ~ + to + verb]
   She is proud to accept the honor.
   [be + ~ + (that) clause]
   She is proud that she is an American.
2. giving a sense of pride;
   highly gratifying:
   a proud achievement.
3. arrogant;
   haughty:
   too proud to admit she's wrong.
4. having or showing self-respect:
   They were a proud family.
5. magnificent, splendid, stately, majestic:
   [before a noun] the once-proud cities that now lay in ruins.

adv., Idiom.

6. do one proud:
   • to be a source of pride or credit to a person:
     Congratulations, you've done us proud!
   • to treat someone or oneself generously or lavishly:
     She did her guests proud with that fabulous dinner.

proud•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

proud  (proud), adj., -er, -est, adv. 
adj. 

1. feeling pleasure or satisfaction over something regarded as highly honorable or creditable to oneself (often fol. by of, an infinitive, or a clause).
2. having, proceeding from, or showing a high opinion of one's own dignity, importance, or superiority.
3. having or showing self-respect or self-esteem.
4. highly gratifying to the feelings or self-esteem:
   It was a proud day for him when his son entered college.
5. highly honorable or creditable:
   a proud achievement.
6. stately, majestic, or magnificent:
   proud cities.
7. of lofty dignity or distinction:
   a proud name; proud nobles.
8. Dialect Terms [Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.] pleased;
   happy:
   I'm proud to meet you.
9. full of vigor and spirit:
   a proud young stallion.
10. [Obs.] brave.

adv. 

11. Idioms do one proud:
    • to be a source of pride or credit to a person:
      His conduct in such a difficult situation did him proud.
    • to treat someone or oneself generously or lavishly:
      You really did us proud with this supper.

• Vulgar Latin; compare Old French prud, prod gallant, Late Latin prōde useful, Latin prōdesse to be of worth
• bef. 1000; Middle English; late Old English prūd, prūt arrogant (cognate with Old Norse prūthr stately, fine), apparently

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

• 1. contented, self-satisfied.
• 2. overbearing, self-important, disdainful, imperious, presumptuous.
  Proud, arrogant, haughty imply a consciousness of, or a belief in, one's superiority in some respect.
  Proud implies sensitiveness, lofty self-respect, or jealous preservation of one's dignity, station, and the like. It may refer to an affectionate admiration of or a justifiable pride concerning someone else:
  proud of his son.
  Arrogant applies to insolent or overbearing behavior, arising from an exaggerated belief in one's importance:
  arrogant rudeness.
  Haughty implies lofty reserve and confident, often disdainful assumption of superiority over others:
  the haughty manner of the butler in the play.
• 6. noble, imposing, splendid.

Antonyms

• 1. dissatisfied.
• 2. humble.
• 5. dishonorable.
• 6. mean; impoverished; lowly.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

proud / praʊd/ adjective

1. followed by of, an infinitive, or a clause: pleased or satisfied, as with oneself, one's possessions, achievements, etc, or with another person, his or her achievements, qualities, etc
2. feeling honoured or gratified by or as if by some distinction
3. having an inordinately high opinion of oneself; arrogant or haughty
4. characterized by or proceeding from a sense of pride: a proud moment
5. having a proper sense of self-respect
6. stately or distinguished
7. bold or fearless
8. (of a surface, edge, etc) projecting or protruding from the surrounding area
9. (of animals) restive or excited, esp sexually; on heat

adverb

1. do someone proud ⇒ to entertain someone on a grand scale: they did us proud at the hotel
2. to honour or distinguish a person: your honesty does you proud

Etymology: Late Old English prūd, from Old French prud, prod brave, from Late Latin prōde useful, from Latin prōdesse to be of value, from prōd-, variant of prō- for + esse to be

ˈproudly adverb

ˈproudness noun