dance

1 of 2

verb

ˈdan(t)s How to pronounce dance (audio)
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 adjective
dancer noun

dance

2 of 2

noun

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
Phrases
dance attendance
: to attend in an eager and servile manner
a celebrity used to having people dance attendance on him

Examples of dance in a Sentence

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Stone, who took home an award for her performance in Poor Things at the end of the night, sang and danced alongside Gosling in La La Land, but that was actually their third collaboration. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 11 Mar. 2024 The hot and sweaty space, a shanty made of wood pieces and tin, holds a crowd of locals swaying drunkenly to the music, sipping strong drinks, and dancing despite the temperature. Korsha Wilson, Bon Appétit, 11 Mar. 2024 Against the backdrop of a rising sun, dozens of Osage danced and sang around a drum, bringing the crowd to its feet. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024 In response, thousands posted videos of themselves dancing to the track — some while receiving their own cancer treatment. Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 While details of the ceremony were kept firmly under wraps, Portman shared a rare throwback photo in 2020 to honor their eighth wedding anniversary, showing the couple dancing at the reception. Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024 Whitney wasn’t the only legendary artist Offset danced for as a kid. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2024 Bollywood actors also took to the stage to dance to Indian wedding songs. USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 With Herbert, and with palace majordomo Agnes (Riseborough), The Regime is attempting to insert some level of drama into all the scenes about how the rest of the country has to dance to Elena’s ridiculous tunes. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
Children bang on toy drums, dance and march to traditional Ramadan songs. Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 Later in her conversation with host Jennifer Hudson, Holker shared that her family of four is finding connection through dance. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 Instead of a restaurant restroom, where the video took place, Bail thought a convenience store bathroom would be an even more unexpected place for a dance party. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024 When, at Flynn’s insistence, a one-on-one finally does occur, something like the truth starts to emerge just as the dance of formality fades. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 His shouted greeting, paired with a jaunty deferential dance, seemed to leave her a bit embarrassed. Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 There will be candy, crafts, a magic show, prizes, dance performances and a chance to take photos with the bunny. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024 In his portrayal of the Reggae legend, British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir, who is of Trinidadian descent, was able to capture Marley’s essence, from his free-spirited dance steps to his mannerisms and accent. Melissa Noel, Essence, 9 Mar. 2024 The colorful event showcased art, music and dance and included a performance by the Ishami Dance Company. Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of dance was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near dance

Cite this Entry

“Dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dance. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dance

1 of 2 verb
danced; dancing
1
: to engage in or perform a dance
2
: to move quickly up and down or about
3
: to perform or take part in as a dancer
danceable adjective
dancer noun

dance

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act or instance of dancing
2
: a series of rhythmic and patterned bodily movements usually performed to music
3
: a social gathering for dancing
4
: a piece of music by which dancing may be guided
5
: the art of dancing

More from Merriam-Webster on dance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!