Dance — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈdan(t)s/

Meaning & Definition of Dance

Dance (verb)

  1. to move one's body rhythmically usually to music, to engage in or perform a dance
  2. to move or seem to move up and down or about in a quick or lively manner
  3. to perform or take part in as a dancer

Dance (noun)

  1. an act or instance of moving one's body rhythmically usually to music, 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

Dance (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a social gathering for dancing

    "who are you taking to the dance on Saturday night?"

    similar: ball, cotillion, formal, hop, prom
    related: blowout, celebration, event, festival, festivity, fete, gala, masque, masquerade, mixer, party, reception, shindig, soiree, hoedown, square dance

Dance (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music

    "she can't resist dancing to her favorite rock bands"

    similar: foot (it), hoof (it), step, shake a leg, trip the light fantastic
    related: prance, strut, trip, boogie, bop, fox-trot, gavotte, jig, jitterbug, jive, mambo, polka, shag, shimmy, shuffle, tango, tap-dance, twist, waltz, tread

  2. to make an irregular series of quick, sudden movements

    "the lithe boxer danced around the ring, staying just out of the reach of his opponent"

    similar: dart, flick, flicker, flirt, flit, flitter, flutter, zip
    related: dash, fly, sail, shoot, speed, sprint, zing, zoom, scamper, scud, scurry, scuttle, skip, skitter, meander, ramble, roam, wander
    near: float, hang, hover

Related Entry: Dance attendance (upon) (phrase)

Dance attendance (upon) is a different word from Dance. The synonyms below are for dance attendance (upon), not for dance.

  1. to be a servant for

    "an assistant who dances attendance upon every whim of the boss"

    similar: serve, slave (for), work (for), wait on
    related: attend, minister (to), tend (to)

Related Entry: Dance card (noun)

Dance card is a different word from Dance. The synonyms below are for dance card, not for dance.

  1. as in card, plate

    similar: card, exercises, plate, agenda, calendar, docket, program, schedule, timetable, arrangement, order, ordering, organization, sequence, setup

Related Entry: Dance cards (noun)

Dance cards is a different word from Dance. The synonyms below are for dance cards, not for dance.

  1. as in cards, plates

    similar: cards, exercises, plates, agendas, calendars, dockets, programs, schedules, timetables, arrangements, orderings, orders, organizations, sequences, setups

Related Entry: Song and dance (noun)

Song and dance is a different word from Dance. The synonyms below are for song and dance, not for dance.

  1. language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions

    "instead of simply denying our request, the mayor's representative gave us a song and dance about legal issues and municipal liability"

    similar: bafflegab, double-talk, gibberish, gobbledygook, rigmarole
    related: bureaucratese, computerese, educationese, governmentese, legalese, Pentagonese, psychobabble, technobabble, bombast, fustian, gas, grandiloquence, hot air, hype, oratory, rhetoric, wind

Related Entry: Square dance (noun)

Square dance is a different word from Dance. The synonyms below are for square dance, not for dance.

  1. as in hoedown

    similar: hoedown, blowout, celebration, event, festival, festivity, fete, gala, masque, masquerade, mixer, party, reception, shindig, soiree, ball, cotillion, dance, formal, hop, prom

Related Entry: Tap-dance (verb)

Tap-dance is a different word from Dance. The synonyms below are for tap-dance, not for dance.

  1. as in jitterbug, waltz

    similar: boogie, bop, fox-trot, gavotte, jig, jitterbug, jive, mambo, polka, shag, shimmy, shuffle, tango, twist, waltz, prance, strut, trip, tread, dance, foot (it), hoof (it), step

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Dance

The most common words with a similar meaning to Dance:

ball, cotillion, formal, hop, prom, foot (it), hoof (it), step, dart, flick, flicker, flirt, flit, flitter, flutter, zip, shake a leg, trip the light fantastic

Related Words for Dance

blowout, celebration, event, festival, festivity, fete, gala, masque, masquerade, mixer, party, reception, shindig, soiree, hoedown, square dance, prance, strut, trip, boogie, bop, fox-trot, gavotte, jig, jitterbug, jive, mambo, polka, shag, shimmy

Near Antonyms of Dance

float, hang, hover

Word Forms of Dance

Inflections: danced, dancing

Derived words: danceable (adjective), dancer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Dance

Middle English dauncen, from Anglo-French dancer

First known use: 14th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Dance

Words & Phrases Containing Dance

dance attendance, dance card, dance circle, dance hall, dance music, dance-off, dance floor, dance the night away

Frequently Asked Questions about Dance

What does "Dance" mean?

"Dance" means to move one's body rhythmically usually to music, to engage in or perform a dance. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to move one's body rhythmically usually to music, to engage in or perform a dance. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Dance"?

Other words for "Dance" include ball, cotillion, formal, hop, prom, foot (it), hoof (it) and step. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Dance" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Dance"?

There are 72 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Dance". Common alternatives include ball, cotillion, formal, hop, prom, foot (it), hoof (it), step, dart and flick.

How do you use "Dance" in a sentence?

Examples of "Dance" in a sentence: "who are you taking to the dance on Saturday night?"; "she can't resist dancing to her favorite rock bands"; "the lithe boxer danced around the ring, staying just out of the reach of his opponent".

Is "Dance" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Dance" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Dance" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Dance" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Dance"?

"Dance" is pronounced /ˈdan(t)s/.

What is the origin of the word "Dance"?

"Dance" comes from Middle English dauncen, from Anglo-French dancer. First known use: 14th centuryi.