prostrate

1 of 2

adjective

pros·trate ˈprä-ˌstrāt How to pronounce prostrate (audio)

: stretched out with face on the ground in adoration or submission

also : lying flat

: completely overcome and lacking vitality, will, or power to rise

was prostrate from the heat

: trailing on the ground : procumbent

prostrate shrubs

prostrate

2 of 2

verb

pros·trate ˈprä-ˌstrāt How to pronounce prostrate (audio)

especially British prä-ˈstrāt

prostrated; prostrating

transitive verb

: to throw or put into a prostrate position

: to put (oneself) in a humble and submissive posture or state

the whole town had to prostrate itself in official apology

Claudia Cassidy

: to reduce to submission, helplessness, or exhaustion

was prostrated with grief

Did you know?

The Difference Between Prone, Supine, and Prostrate

In literal use, prone and supine indicate contrasting positions of the body: a person lying prone is facing downward while a person lying supine is face up.

Both prone and supine also have meanings that have nothing to do with physical position. Supine, in keeping with the image of one lying comfortably idle, can be applied to those who are willing to be controlled by others, or who show mental or moral slackness, as in "supine obedience" or "supine inaction."

Prone is used in the sense of "having a tendency or inclination," as in "prone to worry" or "accident-prone." This usage is similar to such words as apt, liable, or likely (as in "apt to be late"), but in many instances prone implies a vulnerability to attack or damaging influence, in keeping with the image of one lying face down and unable to see what is approaching.

The word prostrate too has meanings to do with body position. It is used with the very specific meaning of "stretched out with face on the ground in adoration or submission," but is also used simply to mean "lying flat." In figurative use, prostrate means "completely overcome and lacking vitality, will, or power to rise," as in "prostrate in fear."

So while prone, supine, and prostrate have specific meanings with regard to body position, they also come with situational connotations in many cases: prone suggests exposure or vulnerability; supine connotes a position of weakness or passivity; and prostrate implies submission in the face of being overcome.

Example Sentences

Adjective The police found the body in a prostrate position. She was lying prostrate on the bed. They were prostrate from the heat. Verb an athlete prostrated for weeks by a bout of pneumonia the huge increase in gas prices really prostrated the nation's economic engine

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

An excellent prostrate variety well suited to rockeries and pathways.

Dennis Peck, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022 Johnson then stood over the prostrate Davis and fired two more times into his head, prosecutors said.

Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2022 As a prostrate Johnson held his head in both hands in disbelief, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich chose to hold his head high.

Jeff Mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2022 Environmentalists have long pushed for prostrate milkweed protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Li Cohen, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2022 Most were silently prostrate on their backs, their paws limp in the air, passed out in the nearly 100-degree heat.

New York Times, 19 Jan. 2022 Thomas Hayer, a twenty-two-year-old member of the Newark Mosque, fired insurance rounds at the prostrate Malcolm, hitting him in his left ankle.

Les Payne, The New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2020 The question is never just a question; the subject is helpless to her storytelling, a rigorous empathy that was like refuge to the Duke and Duchess, who have long been prostrate to the narratives of the tabloids.

Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2021 The doctor leaves his dead son and prostrate wife to go with the excited young man.

Kurt Vonnegut, The New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2020

Verb

Cheney’s once promising career in the House of Representatives was over, at least for now, a casualty of her refusal to prostrate herself at the altar of Trump.

Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2022 His father merely wanted Mugur to prostrate himself with repentance and patriotic vows.

Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2021 Local officials across hard-knock America prostrate themselves for a chance to host it.

Vauhini Vara, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2021 Such actions are unprecedented in Thailand, where those waiting for a royal motorcade regularly sit on the ground or prostrate themselves.

Grant Peck And Chris Blake, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2020 Naird’s situation is of a man with ramrod-straight posture prostrated and disarrayed at many odd angles.

Troy Patterson, The New Yorker, 28 May 2020 That same confidence is also what led Minlend to prostrate on the court, dejected, after USF’s season came to a close with a narrow loss to juggernaut Gonzaga on March 9.

Hayes Gardner, The Courier-Journal, 15 Apr. 2020 During that service, in a sign of humble obedience, Francis prostrated himself for a few minutes on the basilica floor.

NBC News, 11 Apr. 2020 But my resolution wasn’t a self-righteous, self-prostrating chore.

Max De Haldevang, Quartz, 27 Dec. 2019 See More

Kids Definition

prostrate 1 of 2

adjective

pros·trate ˈprä-ˌstrāt How to pronounce prostrate (audio)

: lying with the face turned toward the ground

: lacking strength or energy

I'm prostrate with a cold.

prostrate

2 of 2

verb

prostrated; prostrating

: lie on the ground with the face down

Worshippers prostrated themselves on the ground.

: to bring to a weak and powerless condition

The widow was prostrated with grief.

单词	prostrates
释义	prostrate 1 of 2 adjective pros·trate ˈprä-ˌstrāt 1 : stretched out with face on the ground in adoration or submission also : lying flat 2 : completely overcome and lacking vitality, will, or power to rise was prostrate from the heat 3 : trailing on the ground : procumbent prostrate shrubs prostrate 2 of 2 verb pros·trate ˈprä-ˌstrāt especially British prä-ˈstrāt prostrated; prostrating transitive verb 1 : to throw or put into a prostrate position 2 : to put (oneself) in a humble and submissive posture or state the whole town had to prostrate itself in official apology Claudia Cassidy 3 : to reduce to submission, helplessness, or exhaustion was prostrated with grief Did you know? The Difference Between Prone, Supine, and Prostrate In literal use, prone and supine indicate contrasting positions of the body: a person lying prone is facing downward while a person lying supine is face up. Both prone and supine also have meanings that have nothing to do with physical position. Supine, in keeping with the image of one lying comfortably idle, can be applied to those who are willing to be controlled by others, or who show mental or moral slackness, as in "supine obedience" or "supine inaction." Prone is used in the sense of "having a tendency or inclination," as in "prone to worry" or "accident-prone." This usage is similar to such words as apt, liable, or likely (as in "apt to be late"), but in many instances prone implies a vulnerability to attack or damaging influence, in keeping with the image of one lying face down and unable to see what is approaching. The word prostrate too has meanings to do with body position. It is used with the very specific meaning of "stretched out with face on the ground in adoration or submission," but is also used simply to mean "lying flat." In figurative use, prostrate means "completely overcome and lacking vitality, will, or power to rise," as in "prostrate in fear." So while prone, supine, and prostrate have specific meanings with regard to body position, they also come with situational connotations in many cases: prone suggests exposure or vulnerability; supine connotes a position of weakness or passivity; and prostrate implies submission in the face of being overcome. Synonyms Adjective all in aweary [archaic] beat beaten bleary burned-out burnt-out bushed dead done drained exhausted fatigued jaded knackered [British] limp logy loggy played out pooped [slang] spent tapped out tired tuckered (out) washed-out wearied weary wiped out worn worn-out Verb debilitate devitalize enervate enfeeble etiolate sap soften tire waste weaken See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective The police found the body in a prostrate position. She was lying prostrate on the bed. They were prostrate from the heat. Verb an athlete prostrated for weeks by a bout of pneumonia the huge increase in gas prices really prostrated the nation's economic engine Recent Examples on the Web Adjective An excellent prostrate variety well suited to rockeries and pathways. Dennis Peck, oregonlive, 14 Aug. 2022 Johnson then stood over the prostrate Davis and fired two more times into his head, prosecutors said. Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2022 As a prostrate Johnson held his head in both hands in disbelief, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich chose to hold his head high. Jeff Mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2022 Environmentalists have long pushed for prostrate milkweed protection under the Endangered Species Act. Li Cohen, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2022 Most were silently prostrate on their backs, their paws limp in the air, passed out in the nearly 100-degree heat. New York Times, 19 Jan. 2022 Thomas Hayer, a twenty-two-year-old member of the Newark Mosque, fired insurance rounds at the prostrate Malcolm, hitting him in his left ankle. Les Payne, The New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2020 The question is never just a question; the subject is helpless to her storytelling, a rigorous empathy that was like refuge to the Duke and Duchess, who have long been prostrate to the narratives of the tabloids. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2021 The doctor leaves his dead son and prostrate wife to go with the excited young man. Kurt Vonnegut, The New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2020 Verb Cheney’s once promising career in the House of Representatives was over, at least for now, a casualty of her refusal to prostrate herself at the altar of Trump. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2022 His father merely wanted Mugur to prostrate himself with repentance and patriotic vows. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2021 Local officials across hard-knock America prostrate themselves for a chance to host it. Vauhini Vara, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2021 Such actions are unprecedented in Thailand, where those waiting for a royal motorcade regularly sit on the ground or prostrate themselves. Grant Peck And Chris Blake, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2020 Naird’s situation is of a man with ramrod-straight posture prostrated and disarrayed at many odd angles. Troy Patterson, The New Yorker, 28 May 2020 That same confidence is also what led Minlend to prostrate on the court, dejected, after USF’s season came to a close with a narrow loss to juggernaut Gonzaga on March 9. Hayes Gardner, The Courier-Journal, 15 Apr. 2020 During that service, in a sign of humble obedience, Francis prostrated himself for a few minutes on the basilica floor. NBC News, 11 Apr. 2020 But my resolution wasn’t a self-righteous, self-prostrating chore. Max De Haldevang, Quartz, 27 Dec. 2019 See More Word History Etymology Adjective Middle English prostrat, from Anglo-French, from Latin prostratus, past participle of prosternere, from pro- before + sternere to spread out, throw down — more at strew First Known Use Adjective 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing prostrate prostrate oneself prostrate oneself Kids Definition prostrate 1 of 2 adjective pros·trate ˈprä-ˌstrāt 1 : lying with the face turned toward the ground 2 : lacking strength or energy I'm prostrate with a cold. prostrate 2 of 2 verb prostrated; prostrating 1 : lie on the ground with the face down Worshippers prostrated themselves on the ground. 2 : to bring to a weak and powerless condition The widow was prostrated with grief. Medical Definition prostrate 1 of 2 adjective pros·trate ˈpräs-ˌtrāt : completely overcome was prostrate from the heat prostrate 2 of 2 transitive verb prostrated; prostrating : to put into a state of extreme bodily exhaustion prostrated by fever prostrates verb present tense third-person singular of prostrate 1 as in weakens to diminish the physical strength of an athlete prostrated for weeks by a bout of pneumonia Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance weakens softens injures enervates debilitates wastes exhausts enfeebles paralyzes hurts tires saps damages incapacitates unmans depresses cripples devitalizes depletes impoverishes etiolates impairs hamstrings harms disables invalids wears down wears out lays up washes out grinds (down) breaks down Antonyms & Near Antonyms fortifies strengthens energizes invigorates vitalizes rejuvenates recruits hardens beefs (up) seasons toughens See More 2 as in paralyzes to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move the huge increase in gas prices really prostrated the nation's economic engine Synonyms & Similar Words paralyzes undermines incapacitates cripples immobilizes hamstrings weakens disables attenuates mutilates debilitates saps undercuts maims enervates enfeebles hobbles lames tires knocks out Antonyms & Near Antonyms vitalizes energizes invigorates galvanizes fortifies strengthens empowers restores regenerates revives refreshes rejuvenates freshens revitalizes refreshens See More 3 as in overwhelms to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress a widow prostrated by crushing grief Synonyms & Similar Words overwhelms overcomes devastates oppresses whelms crushes overpowers disturbs drowns floors swamps rocks overmasters snows under unmans staggers grinds (down) sinks defeats confutes refutes demoralizes distresses shatters throws upsets unnerves deluges breaks 4 as in drops to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall the boxer bragged that he could prostrate any opponent with a single blow Synonyms & Similar Words drops topples slams slaps smacks hits floors fells levels downs knocks down pounds pokes knocks over punches overthrows thumps smites bangs mows (down) bowls (down or over) whacks knocks out bashes thwacks clobbers jabs kayoes throws down bludgeons wallops belts socks pastes swats swipes hammers slugs slogs whales KOs
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prostrate

adjective

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing prostrate

Kids Definition

adjective

verb

Medical Definition

adjective

transitive verb

verb