Definition

1. Verb:

   • To move with high, springy steps, often in a lively or spirited manner: This typically describes the movement of a horse, but can also apply to people. It involves lifting the legs high and often includes a bouncing or bounding motion.
   • To walk or behave in a proud, confident, and often showy way, as if trying to attract attention: This figurative meaning describes a strutting, arrogant, or ostentatious manner of walking or carrying oneself.

2. Noun:

   • A proud, stiff, and often pompous gait or manner of walking: This refers to the specific way of walking characterized by high steps and an air of self-importance.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (literal, animal movement):

  • The excited horse began to prance around the paddock.
  • The foal was prancing playfully beside its mother.

• Verb (figurative, human behavior):

  • He pranced into the room, expecting everyone to notice his new suit.
  • The model pranced down the catwalk with great confidence.

• Noun:

  • She walked with a proud prance, her head held high.
  • His walk was more of a strutting prance than a simple stroll.

Advanced Usage

• "to prance about/around": to move around in a lively, energetic, and often showy or silly way.

  • The children were prancing about in their costumes.
  • Stop prancing around and get to work!

• "to prance in/out": to enter or exit a place in a proud, lively, or attention-seeking manner.

  • She pranced out of the meeting after delivering her controversial opinion.

Variants and Related Words

• Prancer (n): One who prances, especially a horse that moves in this way.

  • That chestnut mare is quite the prancer.

• Prancingly (adv): In a prancing manner.

  • He walked prancingly past the crowd.

Synonyms

• Strut: To walk with a proud, stiff, and arrogant gait (closer to the figurative human meaning).
• Cavort: To jump or dance around excitedly (closer to the lively, playful meaning).
• Bound: To move forward with leaping strides.
• Swagger: To walk or behave in a very confident and typically arrogant way.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• Prance off: To leave in a proud, lively, or spirited manner.
  • After winning the argument, he simply pranced off.

Related Idioms

• Full of prance: (Informal) Describing someone who is very lively, energetic, or showing off.
  • The new intern is full of prance today.

Noun

1. a proud stiff pompous gait

Verb

1. ride a horse such that it springs and bounds forward
2. cause (a horse) to bound spring forward
3. spring forward on the hind legs
   • The young horse was prancing in the meadow
4. to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
   • He struts around like a rooster in a hen house