dance
1 of 2verb
ˈdan(t)s 
ˈdän(t)s
danced; dancing
intransitive verb
1
: to move one's body rhythmically usually to music : to engage in or perform a dance (see dance entry 2 sense 2)
dancing to our favorite song
Shall we dance?
2
: to move or seem to move up and down or about in a quick or lively manner
dance for joy
leaves dancing in the wind
transitive verb
1
: to perform or take part in as a dancer
dance the waltz
2
: to cause to dance
danced the baby on her knee
3
: to bring into a specified condition by dancing
danced his way into her heart
danceable
ˈdan(t)-sə-bəl
adjective dancer noun
dance
2 of 2noun
often attributive
1
: an act or instance of moving one's body rhythmically usually to music : an act or instance of dancing (see dance entry 1 sense 1)
the couple's first dance as husband and wife
May I have this dance?
2
: a series of rhythmic and patterned bodily movements usually performed to music
slow dances
dance moves
3
: a social gathering for dancing
a high school dance
4
: a piece of music by which dancing may be guided
5
: the art of dancing
studied dance in college
Synonyms
Verb
- foot (it)
- hoof (it)
- step
Noun
- ball
- cotillion
- cotillon
- formal
- hop
- prom
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He never learned how to dance. She has always loved to dance. I like the song but it's really hard to dance to. He danced her across the floor. She dances with a famous ballet company. She's a great actress, and she can dance and sing, too. Noun They can do all the popular dances. The only dance he knows how to do is the twist. How about one more dance? He stopped right in the middle of the dance to tie his shoe. He did a celebration dance in the end zone after scoring the touchdown. She studied dance in college. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Malaika Jabali, Essence, 15 Sep. 2022 This two-story bar with an outdoor rooftop is known as a place to dance to popping club music, with a club floor, a bar and a beer garden that also serves pizzas like the Honey Bear made with Calabrian salumi, burrata, chili and honey. Sofia Krusmark, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 The fresh salsa track is perfect to dance to at any Mother’s Day fiesta. Billboard Staff, Billboard, 5 May 2022 Horses have been taught to trot and dance to some of composer Georges Bizet’s immortal melodies in a groundbreaking collaboration between Opera Theater of Connecticut, Patricia Norcia Dressage and High Hopes Therapeutic Riding. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Sep. 2022 In ancient Hawai'i, men were the first to dance hula, and the best dancers were even chosen to become warriors. Kathleen Benoza, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 Throughout the event, guests got to pose and dance in colorful wigs of all styles. Whitney Perry, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2022 From his best friend (Christian Vázquez) shipped off in a trade, to his own scuffling, to the descent in the playoff standings, Bogaerts, finally, had a reason to dance. Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2022 Immediately after sharing this story and reading a poem by Ms. Angelou, my opponent called the perpetrator who had harassed me in public to get up and dance with her. oregonlive, 18 Aug. 2022 Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2022 The festival features musical guests, including Grammy Award winner, Mykal Rose of Black Uhuru reggae group and cultural dance performances. Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 17 Sep. 2022 Milian will star as Collette Jones, a character previously played by the late Rivera, in the dance series. Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 17 Sep. 2022 During pregame warmups Nichols will slip into dance routines. Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 Foley Cusano’s husband, Stephen Cusano, runs Parkville Studios, where the dance company rehearses. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2022 When Carmen arrives, Masilda tells her stories from the past and implores the young woman to grieve through dance. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Sep. 2022 The battle sequence that follows is sharp and concise, a cyclone of sinewy limbs and blazing machetes that’s part stylized interpretive dance, part traditional fight choreography. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Sep. 2022 Historic Gruene is now known for its food, shopping and is home to the oldest continuously operating dance hall in Texas. Timothy Fanning, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Sep. 2022 See More
Verb
From food to dance to music, Black influence– from West and Central Africa especially– has shaped many popular Latino traditions. Malaika Jabali, Essence, 15 Sep. 2022 This two-story bar with an outdoor rooftop is known as a place to dance to popping club music, with a club floor, a bar and a beer garden that also serves pizzas like the Honey Bear made with Calabrian salumi, burrata, chili and honey. Sofia Krusmark, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 The fresh salsa track is perfect to dance to at any Mother’s Day fiesta. Billboard Staff, Billboard, 5 May 2022 Horses have been taught to trot and dance to some of composer Georges Bizet’s immortal melodies in a groundbreaking collaboration between Opera Theater of Connecticut, Patricia Norcia Dressage and High Hopes Therapeutic Riding. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Sep. 2022 In ancient Hawai'i, men were the first to dance hula, and the best dancers were even chosen to become warriors. Kathleen Benoza, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 Throughout the event, guests got to pose and dance in colorful wigs of all styles. Whitney Perry, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2022 From his best friend (Christian Vázquez) shipped off in a trade, to his own scuffling, to the descent in the playoff standings, Bogaerts, finally, had a reason to dance. Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2022 Immediately after sharing this story and reading a poem by Ms. Angelou, my opponent called the perpetrator who had harassed me in public to get up and dance with her. oregonlive, 18 Aug. 2022 Noun
As glow sticks spun in the night sky, the dance-pop singer told an audience of thousands to look at the stars — and remember all the young men who will never see them again. Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2022 The festival features musical guests, including Grammy Award winner, Mykal Rose of Black Uhuru reggae group and cultural dance performances. Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 17 Sep. 2022 Milian will star as Collette Jones, a character previously played by the late Rivera, in the dance series. Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 17 Sep. 2022 During pregame warmups Nichols will slip into dance routines. Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 Foley Cusano’s husband, Stephen Cusano, runs Parkville Studios, where the dance company rehearses. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2022 When Carmen arrives, Masilda tells her stories from the past and implores the young woman to grieve through dance. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Sep. 2022 The battle sequence that follows is sharp and concise, a cyclone of sinewy limbs and blazing machetes that’s part stylized interpretive dance, part traditional fight choreography. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Sep. 2022 Historic Gruene is now known for its food, shopping and is home to the oldest continuously operating dance hall in Texas. Timothy Fanning, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English dauncen, from Anglo-French dancer
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing dance
Kids Definition
dance 1 of 2
verb
ˈdans
danced; dancing
1
: to step or move through a series of movements usually in time to music
2
: to move about or up and down quickly and lightly
Butterflies danced in the garden.
dance
2 of 2noun
1
: an act of stepping or moving through a series of movements usually in time to music
2
: a social gathering for dancing
3
: a set of movements or steps for dancing usually in time to special music
The samba is a popular dance of Brazil.
4
: the art of dancing
She is studying dance.
dance 1 of 2
noun
as in prom
a social gathering for dancing who are you taking to the dance on Saturday night? Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- prom
- celebration
- festival
- ball
- party
- hop
- festivity
- cotillion
- formal
- event
- masquerade
- cotillon
- gala
- reception
- hoedown
- soiree
- square dance
- fete
- shindig
- soirée
- masque
- mask
- blowout
- mixer
- fête
dance
2 of 2verb
1
as in to step
to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music she can't resist dancing to her favorite rock bands Synonyms & Similar Words
- step
- waltz
- shuffle
- strut
- boogie
- tango
- prance
- boogy
- jig
- jitterbug
- bop
- mambo
- polka
- shake a leg
- gavotte
- jive
- shag
- hoof (it)
- shimmy
- foot (it)
- trip
- tap-dance
- fox-trot
- trip the light fantastic
- boogey
- twist
- tread
2
as in to dart
to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements the lithe boxer danced around the ring, staying just out of the reach of his opponent Synonyms & Similar Words
- dart
- flit
- flutter
- flirt
- flick
- fly
- scurry
- flicker
- zip
- wander
- sail
- flitter
- speed
- sprint
- skip
- zing
- scuttle
- zoom
- shoot
- roam
- dash
- skitter
- scamper
- meander
- scud
- ramble
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- float
- hang
- hover
Phrases Containing dance
- colorfulnesses
- colorgravure
- colories
- colorific
- colorimeter
- colorimeters
- colorimetric
- colorimetric photometer
- colorimetric purity
- colorimetric quality
- colorimetrically
- colorimetrics
- colorimetries
- colorimetrist
- colorimetry
- coloring
- coloring book
- coloring in
- colorings
- colorism
- colorisms
- colorist
- coloristic
- coloristically
- colorists