Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction due to one's own achievements, qualities, or possessions, or those of someone with whom one is closely associated: This is the most common meaning, describing a positive feeling of self-respect or gratification.
   • Having or showing a high or excessively high opinion of oneself or one's importance; arrogant: This meaning carries a negative connotation of being haughty or disdainful.
   • Imposing; splendid; magnificent: Used to describe something that is impressive or majestic in appearance.

Usage

• Positive Sense (Pleasure/Satisfaction): Used with the preposition "of" ("proud of") or "to be" ("proud to be").
  • She was proud of her daughter's success.
  • He felt proud to represent his country.
• Negative Sense (Arrogance): Often used before a noun or with a descriptive phrase.
  • He was too proud to admit he was wrong.
  • She gave him a proud, dismissive look.
• Descriptive Sense (Splendid):
  • The ship made a proud sight as it entered the harbor.

Examples

• Positive:
  • The team was justifiably proud of their hard-won victory.
  • It was a proud moment for the entire community when the new library opened.
• Negative:
  • His proud demeanor made him unpopular with his colleagues.
  • Don't be too proud to ask for help when you need it.
• Descriptive:
  • The castle stood proud against the skyline.

Advanced Usage

• "To do someone proud": To treat someone very well or generously, or to make someone feel proud through one's actions.
  • The team's performance really did the coach proud.
  • They did us proud with a magnificent feast.
• "Proud as a peacock": An idiom meaning extremely proud, often in a showy or vain way.
  • He was proud as a peacock in his new uniform.

Variants and Related Words

• Proudly (adverb): In a proud manner.
  • She proudly displayed her medals.
• Pride (noun): The feeling of being proud; a group of lions.
  • He felt a surge of pride.
  • A pride of lions rested in the shade.
• Proudhearted (adjective, archaic): Having a proud spirit.

Synonyms

• Positive: pleased, gratified, satisfied, content, honored, dignified.
• Negative: arrogant, conceited, haughty, disdainful, superior, vain.
• Descriptive: majestic, stately, imposing, magnificent, splendid.

Antonyms

• Ashamed, humble, modest, meek.

Related Idioms

• "Swallow one's pride": To reluctantly accept something humiliating or embarrassing.
  • He had to swallow his pride and apologize.
• "Pride comes/goes before a fall": A proverb meaning arrogance leads to failure or disaster.
  • He was boasting he couldn't lose, but pride comes before a fall.

Adjective

1. having or displaying great dignity or nobility
   • a gallant pageant
   • lofty ships
   • majestic cities
   • proud alpine peaks
2. feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
   • proud parents
   • proud of his accomplishments
   • a proud moment
   • proud to serve his country
   • a proud name
   • proud princes