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to dance

to dance

∞ 1.0
To move your body in time to music
  • verb
  • /dæns/
: bailar
  • At the wedding, everyone started to dance as soon as the music began.
  • sing and dance
  • dance to music
  • get up and dance

She had to dance for the guards, right?

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Examples

  • She loves to sing and dance and go to the beach.

  • You know, Alex knows how to salsa dance, right?

  • And you get to dance with boys.

  • You go out with friends, you dance, you have so much fun.

  • Because we can dance all day if you want to.

  • Oh, you want to dance?

  • The children then dance around the classroom, starting out slowly and then moving quickly.

    Academic text (2013)
  • OK, you know how to dance, you know why you're here.

  • You've spent the whole night dancing with him, and I'm going to tell your mother.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • My 2-year-old son follows my 5-year-old around as she dances to the music.

    Academic text (2015)

Synonyms

to tap
vsto dance
54 4.1

To make rhythmic sounds with the feet when dancing

is general rhythmic movement not centered on footwear sounds
to boogie
vsto dance
  • Informal
30 7.5

Dance energetically to lively upbeat music

is general rhythmic movement that can be gentle or energetic
to groove
vsto dance
  • Informal
24 3.9

To enjoy music and move your body to its rhythm

is broader rhythmic body movement for expression or entertainment
to tap dance
vsto dance
21 3.1

To move your feet to make tapping sounds while wearing shoes with metal plates

is broader rhythmic motion not dependent on special shoes
to twerk
vsto dance
  • NSFW
13 9.4

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

is general rhythmic movement not focused on specific body part shaking
to tango
vsto dance
11 3.9

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

is general rhythmic movement that may be solo or with others
to break-dance
vsto dance
8 4.2

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

is general rhythmic movement without required acrobatics or street style
to break dance
vsto dance
6 3.7

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

is general rhythmic movement that may or may not include acrobatics
to disco
vsto dance
  • Archaic
4 4.8

To dance to lively music with a steady bass beat

is general rhythmic movement not tied to one music style
to square dance
vsto dance
  • US
3 3.3

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

is general rhythmic movement not requiring set patterns or a caller
to steppin'
vsto dance
  • Informal
1 8.4

Move your feet in time with music as a dance

is broader bodily movement including arms and full body motion
to trip the light fantastic
vsto dance
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Dance in a lively, graceful way to music

is broader rhythmic movement not focused on grace or elegance
to breakdancing
vsto dance
1 3.7

To do energetic street dance moves with flips and spins

is broader bodily movement not specific to that athletic street form
to tapdance
vsto dance
1 3.4

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

is general movement rhythm without producing percussive shoe sounds
to folk dance
vsto dance
1 3.7

To dance in a traditional style from a region

is general rhythmic movement not tied to tradition or region
to trip the light fantastic toe
vsto dance
  • Archaic
9.9

To dance in a lively, elegant way to music

is general rhythmic movement without emphasis on light footwork

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 Energetic

to boogie
  • Informal
30 7.5
stomp
7 4.8
to dance
∞ 1.0
to sway
80 2.4

Surface Forms

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

Etymology

Dance comes from the old French danser, originally meaning 'to jump' or 'move quickly'. That's why dance today means moving your body and feet in time with music as a lively form of expression.