parade
large organized public procession
A big public event where many people or vehicles move together along a street to celebrate or show something.
a parade of [people/vehicles] through [a place]
- Thousands of people lined the streets to watch the Pride parade.
- The city held a victory parade for the championship team.
- We took the kids downtown for the Christmas parade.
- Police will close several roads during the parade.
- The parade featured colorful floats and marching bands.
- We watched the big parade in the city.
- There was a long parade with many cars and bands.
- My school will walk in the holiday parade.
- The parade goes past my house every year.
- They are planning a parade for the new king.
to march in a procession
To walk in a line with a group in public, as part of a special event.
[people] parade through [a place]
- The athletes paraded through the city in open-top buses.
- Students paraded around the stadium before the game began.
- Dancers in bright costumes paraded past the cameras.
- The team paraded the trophy through their hometown.
- Veterans paraded down the main street to mark the holiday.
- The band paraded through the town.
- Children paraded around the school with flags.
- The players paraded the cup in front of the fans.
- People paraded down the road and waved.
- They paraded past us slowly.
to show something off publicly
To make someone or something very easy for everyone to see, usually to show how good it is, or sometimes to shame someone.
to parade [something/someone] in front of [people]
- He loves to parade his achievements on social media.
- The company paraded its new technology in front of investors.
- The suspects were paraded before journalists outside the court.
- She felt uncomfortable being paraded in front of potential clients.
- Politicians paraded their families on stage for the cameras.
- He likes to parade his new car at work.
- They paraded their baby in front of all the guests.
- The school paraded its best students on the stage.
- She does not want to be paraded on TV.
- The boss paraded the award around the office.
continuous series of people or things
Many people or things coming one after another, often so many that it seems too much or annoying.
a parade of [problems/people/things]
- The talk show featured a parade of celebrities promoting their new movies.
- We faced a constant parade of technical problems during the launch.
- A depressing parade of statistics filled the report.
- The manager listened to a parade of complaints from unhappy customers.
- The courtroom saw a daily parade of witnesses over several weeks.
- There was a parade of questions at the end of the talk.
- The teacher listened to a parade of excuses from the students.
- We had a parade of small problems all day.
- The show brought a parade of singers to the stage.
- He talked about a parade of bad events in his life.
formal military formation or ceremony
A special time when soldiers stand in lines or march together so they can be checked or shown to people.
be on parade
- New recruits stood nervously on parade as the officers approached.
- The regiment held a farewell parade before leaving the base.
- Cadets must be on parade at seven o'clock sharp.
- The general inspected the troops on parade.
- They practiced for weeks for the passing-out parade.
- The soldiers stood on parade in the morning.
- We watched the army parade on the base.
- The officer walked in front of the soldiers on parade.
- All cadets must be on parade at eight.
- He cleaned his uniform for the parade ground.
to walk to attract attention
To walk in a public place again and again so that people will see you.
[someone] parade up and down [a place]
- Teenagers paraded up and down the shopping street on Saturday night.
- He spent the afternoon parading around the pool in his new swimsuit.
- Models paraded along the pier, posing for tourists.
- They paraded in front of the café, hoping to be noticed.
- Fans paraded outside the stadium long before the game started.
- The boys paraded up and down the main street.
- She paraded around the mall in her new dress.
- They paraded in front of the shop windows.
- People paraded along the beach all evening.
- He likes to parade around the club to be seen.
wide town or seaside street
A wide street or open area, often near the sea, where people walk and there are many shops.
walk along the parade
- Our hotel is right on the parade overlooking the beach.
- They opened a new café on the main parade.
- We took an evening stroll along the parade.
- Shops along the parade stay open late in summer.
- Street artists perform on the parade during the holidays.
- We walked along the parade by the sea.
- There are many small shops on the parade.
- Our room looks out over the parade.
- Children played on the parade in front of the hotels.
- They sat in a bar on the parade and watched people.
- Base: parade
- Plural: parade, parades
- Base: parade
- 3rd Person Singular: parades
- Present Participle: parading
- Past: paraded
on parade
1assembled and clearly on display
To be gathered in a group where everyone can see you, especially in a formal or military way, or when many similar things are shown together.
- All the new recruits were on parade at dawn.
- The company’s latest products were on parade at the trade show.
- With so many cameras around, every mistake was on parade.
parade around
1walk around to show off
To walk or move around in a public place in a way that makes people look at you or something you have.
- He loves to parade around in his designer sunglasses.
- They paraded around the office with the trophy all afternoon.
- Tourists were parading around the square with big cameras.
parade as
1pretend to be something
To behave or speak as if you are a particular kind of person, when you are not really that kind of person.
- He parades as an expert, but he’s never worked in the field.
- The group parades as a charity, yet it’s actually a business.
- She paraded as a concerned neighbor to get information.
parade up and down
1walk back and forth to be seen
To walk again and again in one place, usually in a straight line, so that people notice you.
- Teenagers paraded up and down the main street on Friday night.
- He kept parading up and down outside her office.
- Models paraded up and down the catwalk before the judges.
rain on someone's parade
1spoil someone’s plans or excitement
To make someone feel less happy or excited about their plans or good news, often by bringing problems or criticism.
- I don’t want to rain on your parade, but the trip might be too expensive.
- She was so proud of her idea that I didn’t have the heart to rain on her parade.
- Not to rain on your parade, but it’s supposed to storm all weekend.