parade

1 of 2

noun

pa·​rade pə-ˈrād How to pronounce parade (audio)
plural parades
1
a
: a public procession (see procession entry 1 sense 1a) usually to mark a holiday or event
… the Halloween parade is open to all city boys and girls 12 years and younger wearing costumes. … Participants will receive a free trick-or-treat bag and candy along the parade route …The Springfield (Massachusetts) Morning Union
May 30th was Memorial Day, when Americans remember those who died serving in the armed forces. … Soldiers and sailors marched in parades honouring the fallen.The Economist
especially : one involving many different people or groups who travel down a street usually on foot or in vehicles (such as floats)
Pinta and her family planned the parade that featured more than 90 groups, organizations and politicians. Windy City Times (Chicago)
Approximately 50 parade entries include marching bands, celebrities, community groups, public officials and fire/police vehicles. Ivy Weiss
… over 25,000 people dress extravagantly, from colorful bikinis with feathers to … gowns, while performing in steel bands and dance groups on the elaborately decorated floats that form the official parade. Marthe van der Wolf
The parade will feature spectacular flower-covered floats with riders in colorful costumes, beautiful dresses and striking uniforms. San Antonio Magazine
b
: a usually long series of people or things
… the American people watched a parade of witnesses expose the details of a political crime …Karen De Witt
The movie does have one campy casting conceit: a parade of cameos by stars of old TV Western series …David Hiltbrand
Our antipasto was a parade of little dishes containing black olives, fresh sheep cheeses, … and prosciutto.Robert Riche
((British)) … went to see the new street art, which is on the … end of a parade of shopsTim Lewis
2
a
: the ceremonial formation of a body of troops before a superior officer
Handcrafted reproductions of miniature 18th-century tin soldiers, … these Austrian horsemen assume dramatic poses of battle and parade.The Smithsonian Catalog
b
: a place where troops assemble regularly for parade
3
: a pompous show : exhibition
The male booby may walk around using exaggerated, deliberate-looking leg movements, displaying his bright-blue legs and feet. Actually his parade is closer to the pick 'em up and put 'em down gait of … scuba divers.Michael H. Robinson
4
a
: a place for strolling (such as a public walk or square)
b
: those who promenade

parade

2 of 2

verb

paraded; parading

transitive verb

1
: to cause to maneuver or march : marshal
2
3
: to exhibit ostentatiously

intransitive verb

1
: to march in or as if in a procession
2
3
a
b
: masquerade
myths which parade as modern scienceM. R. Cohen
parader noun
Choose the Right Synonym for parade

show, exhibit, display, expose, parade, flaunt mean to present so as to invite notice or attention.

show implies no more than enabling another to see or examine.

showed her snapshots to the whole group

exhibit stresses putting forward prominently or openly.

exhibit paintings at a gallery

display emphasizes putting in a position where others may see to advantage.

display sale items

expose suggests bringing forth from concealment and displaying.

sought to expose the hypocrisy of the town fathers

parade implies an ostentatious or arrogant displaying.

parading their piety for all to see

flaunt suggests a shameless, boastful, often offensive parading.

nouveaux riches flaunting their wealth

Examples of parade in a Sentence

Noun the annual Thanksgiving Day parade After the team won the championship, the city threw a parade for them. The town will put on a parade. The marching band lined up for the homecoming parade. Verb The team and its fans paraded down the street. Protesters paraded in front of City Hall. The models paraded up and down the runway. She paraded around on the beach in her bikini. The victors paraded the prisoners through the streets.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Each fall and spring, the fort’s most beautiful historic homes are opened for tours on a parade of homes. Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2024 As the 2024 election cycle ramps up, the White House has sent a parade of visitors and surrogates through Arizona, which is considered one of the few states up for grabs by both parties in the upcoming presidential race. Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 At Chanel’s pre-fall 2024 show in Manchester, the storied brand sent parade of models decked out in tweed suits with matching newsboy caps down the runway. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 29 Feb. 2024 One video taken on the day of her arrival shows a parade of platforms being dragged behind a transport vehicle, each carrying huge boxes covered by tarps. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 29 Feb. 2024 Art, culture, music, and lifestyle are embraced with displays, parades, boat shows, education, conservation, and sporting events. Kathleen Turner, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Pro-Palestinian protesters joined this year’s Lunar New Year parade in New York City’s Chinatown on Sunday. Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024 Lyndell Mays, 23, of Raytown, and Dominic M. Miller, 18, of Kansas City, each face a count of second-degree felony murder in connection with the parade shooting that killed a woman and injured 24 people. Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024 Travis and Jason Kelce are letting their voices be heard following the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl parade shooting that left Lisa Lopez-Galvan dead and 22 people injured. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024
Verb
Hopkins pleaded guilty on Dec. 20, 2022, to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 23 Feb. 2024 One after the other Wednesday morning, ahead of pitchers and catchers’ first official workout, the greenest arms in camp paraded past Alex Cobb’s corner locker, offering pleasantries in spades. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024 Members of the Monogram Hunters Black Masking Indians parade on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, February 13, 2024. CBS News, 13 Feb. 2024 Costumed performers parade past brick houses against hazy backdrops, the eyes of their masks seemingly lost in thought. Oscar Holland, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024 Garments and accessories paraded down the runway, such as a dress adorned with microchips, paying homage to the original codes devised by the founder of the historic maison, similar to keyholes with locks and the fascinating interest in human anatomy. Pino Gagliardi, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2024 The jet set lifestyle that is paraded on social media seems like pure bliss, from summering in Thailand one season and skiing in Switzerland the next. Amiah Taylor, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 Now, the Chiefs will hit the streets of Kansas City to parade around town and relish in this victorious moment with fans. Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024 The Quebec Winter Carnival continued successfully for years, with events ranging from a canoe race across the St. Lawrence River to parade floats. Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'parade.' 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

Noun

borrowed from French, "show, display (of an object to demonstrate its value), show of military force, cavalry procession," going back to Middle French, from parer "to prepare, adorn, dress (a person) with care" (going back to Old French) + -ade -ade — more at pare

Verb

derivative of parade entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb

1686, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of parade was in 1649

Dictionary Entries Near parade

Cite this Entry

“Parade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parade. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

parade

1 of 2 noun
pa·​rade pə-ˈrād How to pronounce parade (audio)
1
: great show or display
2
: a formation of a body of troops before a superior officer
3
: a public procession
4
: a crowd of strolling people
the Easter parade

parade

2 of 2 verb
paraded; parading
1
a
: to cause to march
b
: to march in a parade
2
3
: show off sense 1
parade one's knowledge
parader noun

More from Merriam-Webster on parade

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