prance
gb/pɹˈæns/ us/pɹˈæns/
B2
English
szökell, magasan emelve a lábát lépked, peckesen lépked, szökellés, peckes lépkedés
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/animal] prances (around/across/down [place])
The young colt pranced around the paddock as soon as the gate opened.
A fiatal csikó körbeszökellt a karámban, mihelyt kinyílt a kapu.
The dancers pranced across the stage in time with the music.
A táncosok a zene ütemére szökelltek át a színpadon.
She pranced down the hallway on tiptoe, pretending she was in a parade.
Learner examples
The horse pranced in the field.
A ló szökellt a mezőn.
The child pranced across the room.
A gyerek átszökellt a szobán.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse prance with walk; prance suggests higher, bouncier steps and often a showy or playful feel.
Meaning
move with high springy steps
Collocations
prance around
|prance about
|prance across the field
|prance down the street
|prance along
|prance up and down
|prance in place
|a prancing horse
|a prancing gait
|prance proudly
Synonyms
caper (More playful and jumpy; often suggests mischief.)
|
skip (More childlike; involves small jumps.)
|
trot (More regular and functional, especially for horses.)
Antonyms
trudge (Slow, heavy steps rather than light, high ones.)
|
plod (Steady, heavy, unenergetic walking.)
Themes
movement
|animals
|performance
Definition
to move with high, lively steps
To move with a light, high-stepping gait, lifting the feet (or a horse’s forelegs) more than usual, often in an energetic or trained way.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] prances (into/through [place])
He pranced into the office as if everyone had been waiting for him.
Peckesen bevonult az irodába, mintha mindenki rá várt volna.
She pranced onto the stage in a feathered costume.
Peckesen vonult a színpadra tollas jelmezben.
The kids pranced around the living room, copying the ballet dancers.
Learner examples
He pranced into the room.
Peckesen bevonult a szobába.
She pranced onto the stage.
Peckesen vonult a színpadra.
Common mistake:
Prance is usually intransitive (no direct object): you prance into a room, not prance something.
Meaning
walk in an affected, showy way
Collocations
prance into the room
|prance onto the stage
|prance through the house
|prance about
|prance in high heels
|prance in a costume
|prance dramatically
|prance playfully
|prance self-consciously
|prance like a model
Synonyms
strut (More about confident posture and swagger than high steps.)
|
mince (Suggests small, delicate steps; often critical.)
Antonyms
slouch (Suggests poor posture and a casual, unconfident manner.)
|
shuffle (Small dragging steps, not lifted or lively.)
Themes
movement
|social
|emotions
Definition
to walk with exaggerated high steps, often to be noticed
(Of a person) to walk or dance with exaggerated high steps in a way that seems affected, playful, or slightly self-important.
NOUN
C1
3
szökellés
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone/animal] does [a] prance
With a little prance, she crossed the room to greet her friends.
Egy kis szökelléssel átvágott a szobán, hogy üdvözölje a barátait.
The pony’s prance impressed the judges in the ring.
A póni szökellése lenyűgözte a bírókat a porondon.
He added a quick prance at the end of his bow for comic effect.
Learner examples
She did a little prance.
Tett egy kis szökellést.
The pony did a proud prance.
A póni egy büszke szökellést mutatott be.
Common mistake:
As a noun, prance is less common than the verb; learners often overuse it instead of step or walk.
Meaning
a high-stepping movement
Collocations
a little prance
|with a prance
|do a quick prance
|a playful prance
|a proud prance
|break into a prance
|a prance across the yard
|a prance down the path
|a prance around the ring
|an elegant prance
Synonyms
skip (More like small jumps, often childlike.)
|
caper (More energetic and playful, sometimes silly.)
|
strut (More about swagger than high steps.)
Antonyms
trudge (A heavy, tired walk rather than a lively movement.)
Themes
movement
|animals
|performance
Definition
a lively high-stepping movement
A lively, high-stepping movement or the act of prancing.
Grammar
Dictionary form
prance
IPA
GB/pɹˈæns/
US/pɹˈæns/
Syllables & stress
prance (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (prance)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: prance
Verb
- Base: prance
- 3rd Person Singular: prances
- Present Participle: prancing
- Past: pranced
Word family
Forms
prances
verb
prancing
verb
pranced
verb
Related words
prancer
noun
Expressions
prance around
1/pɹˈæns ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
move around showing off
to move around to get attention
Examples
- He kept prancing around in his new jacket, waiting for someone to notice.
- Stop prancing around and help set the table.
- She was prancing around like she owned the place.
Learner examples
- He is prancing around in his new shoes.
- Please stop prancing around.
prance off
1/pɹˈæns ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
leave in a showy way
to leave in a proud, showy way
Examples
- After making his announcement, he pranced off without taking questions.
- She grabbed her bag and pranced off to meet her friends.
- He pranced off down the street as if he’d won an award.
Learner examples
- He pranced off quickly.
- She pranced off to the door.