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to dance

to dance

175 1.0
To move quickly and lightly from side to side or up and down
  • verb
  • /dæns/
: bailar
  • Light reflected from a revolving mirrored ball danced off them like photokinetic confetti.
  • dance in front of
  • begin to dance

The mind quickens, the shore creeps, some dance, others nap.

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Examples

  • Yeah, guess I'm going to dance some tonight.

  • The children love to dance in the living room whenever their favorite song plays.

  • You were just, like, dancing like a wild man.

  • Why is nobody dancing, yeah?

  • I think we gotta dance.

  • I mean, I came out here strictly to dance when I left school.

  • I got to watch the boys and girls act silly and dance different dances from different eras.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Let's dance!

  • As soon as the music started, everyone began to dance and enjoy the moment.

  • She watched her friends dance happily at the wedding reception.

Synonyms

to boogie
vsto dance
  • Informal
30 7.5

Dance energetically to lively upbeat music

is lighter and more delicate, focusing on quick small motions
to groove
vsto dance
  • Informal
24 3.9

To enjoy music and move your body to its rhythm

is more about quick, light, and irregular up or side motion
to twerk
vsto dance
  • NSFW
13 9.4

Shake your hips and bottom in time with music, often while low in a squat

is lighter and quicker, focusing on small up or side motions rather than thrusts
to tango
vsto dance
11 3.9

To dance with a partner in the Argentine style using close steps

is more about light, quick individual up or side movements rather than partnered steps
to shimmy
vsto dance
11 7.7

To shake the body quickly from side to side as a dance move

is similar but describes lighter overall moving up or side rather than isolated shakes
to bop
vsto dance
9 6.1

To move your body to music in a lively way

is specifically lighter and quicker, not just general rhythmic movement
to break-dance
vsto dance
8 4.2

To do energetic acrobatic street dance moves to hip-hop music

is lighter and less technical, highlighting brief up or side motions
to break dance
vsto dance
6 3.7

To perform a street dance with quick acrobatic moves to hip-hop music

is lighter and simpler, not focused on acrobatics or heavy moves
to disco
vsto dance
  • Archaic
4 4.8

To dance to lively music with a steady bass beat

is broader and lighter, focusing on small quick up or side motions
to cut a rug
vsto dance
  • Archaic
4 8.4

To dance with a lot of energy and have fun

is more about light quick movements rather than full energetic steps
to jig
vsto dance
3 6.4

To dance quickly with short jumps and kicks

is lighter and less jumpy, focusing on quick up or side moves
to square dance
vsto dance
  • US
3 3.3

To dance with four couples in a square led by a caller

is freer and more irregular, focusing on quick light motion rather than set patterns
to waltz around
vsto dance
2 3.7

To dance slowly and smoothly while moving around a room

is quicker and lighter, focusing on small irregular motions not smooth glides
to steppin'
vsto dance
  • Informal
1 8.4

Move your feet in time with music as a dance

is lighter and quicker, focusing on whole-body small movements
to breakdancing
vsto dance
1 3.7

To do energetic street dance moves with flips and spins

is lighter and quick, emphasizing small irregular motions over acrobatic skills
to belly dance
vsto dance
1 4.0

To move the hips and stomach in a Middle Eastern dance

is lighter and quicker, emphasizing small up or side motions rather than sinuous isolations
to boogie on down
vsto dance
  • Informal
1 8.8

To dance in a lively way to music

is lighter and quicker, emphasizing small up or side motions
to tapdance
vsto dance
1 3.4

To move the feet to make a rhythm with small metal plates on special shoes

is about light quick body movement rather than producing foot rhythms
to jive to the rhythm
vsto dance
  • Informal
7.5

Dance quickly and happily to the beat of music

is lighter and quicker, focusing on brief up or side motions

Antonyms

119 1.0

Stay upright in one place without moving

Idioms

7 4.4

To spend a long time moving to music until very late at night

4 9.6

To take a serious risk by doing something morally wrong to gain power or money

To take part in a traditional May Day dance in a circle around a tall decorated pole

1 6.1

To enjoy life without worrying about problems

1 9.9

To be hanged by the neck until dead

7.7

To move your body with wild, strong energy and little control

Stay loyal to people or groups that supported you

Move your body freely and confidently without worrying about other people

Move your body freely and happily without worrying about being watched

9.9

To move with great ease and joy while showing confidence

To move your body in a lively way with fast steps to music

Phrasal Verbs

To move your body to music without stopping for the whole night at a party

To perform a street dance with quick acrobatic moves to hip-hop music

2 3.9

To start dancing at a party or club

To move the hips and stomach in a Middle Eastern dance

To dance with great energy and make people excited

to slam dance
  • Jargon
1 8.7

To dance by bumping into other people on purpose, often at punk shows

To do a lively swing dance with a partner called the Lindy Hop

Invite someone to dance with you at a party

Compounds

119 1.3

An area where people dance at parties or clubs

23 1.0

A class where people learn to dance

23 2.6

A specific step or movement done during a dance

A performance with singing and dancing on stage

16 2.9

A large place for dancing with live or recorded music

15 1.4

Music with a strong beat that people dance to at parties

11 1.9

A set of foot movements that form part of a dance

9 3.5

A stage performance with free, expressive body movements

8 4.4

A contest where people compete by dancing to see who is best

7 3.3

A country dance with four couples in a square led by a caller

7 3.0

A dance where the feet make tapping sounds using shoes with metal plates

5 2.7

A group of musicians who play popular lively music for people to dance to

5 7.5

A traditional dance people do to ask for rain

5 3.6

A party in a barn where people dance country dances

song and dance
  • Informal
4 7.2

A complicated story used as an excuse to avoid blame

Dance movements that express emotions and tell a story

4 2.7

A traditional dance from a region that tells local stories

3 3.6

A solo street dance with quick acrobatic moves often done to hip-hop music

dance of death
  • Literature
3 9.9

An image showing death as a skeleton leading rich and poor people to the grave

3 2.1

A school where people learn to dance

A formal activity where couples move together in set steps to music like the waltz

A dance from a community that people learn from their grandparents

2 5.8

A dance performed during a religious or traditional ceremony

2 5.3

A person who teaches formal dances like ballet and the waltz

ghost dance
  • Literature
2 9.8

A religious dance from the late 1800s in which Native American people try to talk with spirits and find hope

2 6.8

A traditional dance where people stamp loudly while wearing shoes with wooden soles

2 3.4

A Middle Eastern dance with smooth hip and stomach movements

2 8.2

A group dance done before battle or after a victory, often by Native peoples

dance therapy
  • Specialized
2 4.1

A way of using dance and movement to help people feel better emotionally and physically

A dance done during a religious or ritual ceremony to show respect

1 6.1

A traditional dance where men step over or wave swords during celebrations

sun dance
  • Literature
1 8.8

A special dance held in summer by some Native American tribes to honor the sun

1 4.4

A lively happy movement people make together at a celebration

kabuki dance
  • Literature
1 9.9

A public show that looks important but hides real plans

1 4.6

People moving forward in a long winding line at a celebration

1 6.8

A dance in which dancers move fans in slow graceful ways for a show or celebration

dance orchestra
  • Archaic
1 3.2

A group of musicians who play music for dancing at social events

slam dance
  • Jargon
1 8.8

A style of dancing where people bump into each other on purpose, usually at punk shows

A group dance around a tall pole decorated with ribbons and flowers

pee-pee dance
  • Baby Talk
1 9.9

A small dance children do when they really need to pee

dance palace
  • Archaic
1 3.0

A large room or building for dancing and social events

A dance on stage with planned steps performed for an audience like ballet or modern dance

St. Vitus dance
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A medical condition causing sudden uncontrolled movements in children often after rheumatic fever

A dance that uses body movements to show feelings or tell a story

1 7.7

A dance that copies the stiff, jerky movements of zombies

Music played to accompany square dancing, often with lively fiddle or banjo rhythms

1 9.1

A traditional English group dance with dancers in costumes who use sticks, handkerchiefs, or bells

A dance with slow, smooth, curving movements that look graceful

1 9.3

A traditional dance by some Native American people to ask for rain and a good corn harvest

1 3.3

People move together in a circle following set steps, often with partners

1 9.8

A solo dance using large balloons to hide and show the dancer's body

apache dance
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A fast, dramatic dance that shows a pretend struggle between a man and a woman

1 6.1

A dance on the tips of the toes usually in ballet

1 4.5

A group of people who form a circle and dance together, often holding hands

1 9.9

A short flirty show of bold, showy moves to get attention

A traditional folk dance where couples stand in sets or lines and do the same steps to music

To dance in a traditional style from a region

1 9.9

A condition that makes children have quick, uncontrolled body movements

9.9

A low, energetic dance where people bend their knees and move their arms and legs widely, often at metal shows

A dance by Apache people performed during a religious ceremony

fan dance
  • NSFW
8.6

A solo dance using large feather fans to hide and show the body in a sexy way

7.7

Using body movement to help women feel stronger and heal

A long party where people dance late at night for many hours

A country dance with couples in two long lines facing each other

nautch dance
  • Archaic
9.9

A traditional Indian dance performed by trained women dancers at festivals and social events

A child moving and fidgeting because they need to go to the toilet right away

A dance where dancers make rhythmic sounds by hitting the floor with metal plates on their shoes

skibidi dance
  • Texting
8.9

A popular dance from a music video that people copy on social media

9.1

A sacred dance where people handle snakes as part of a ritual among some Native American groups

weasel war dance
  • Informal
9.9

A wild, excited dance that ferrets or weasels do when they are happy

How Lively

to gyrate
12 6.9
to prance
44 4.8
to dance
175 1.0
to bob
61 2.7
to fidget
32 3.4

Surface Forms

dance infinitive
danced past
danced past participle
dancing present participle
dances third person singular

Etymology

Dance comes from an old French word danser, and that word likely came from older words meaning 'to jump' or 'move quickly'. So think of light, quick movement when you see this verb meaning to move up and down or side to side.