to pounce

Examples

• All

• And just when he was ready to pounce on the little boy, the little boy yelled, "Wolf, wolf!"

  Trick or Treats (1982)

• If I slip up even a little, he is so ready to pounce.

  I Don't Know How She Does It (2011)

• I know what it's like to pounce on your prey.

  Emmanuelle (2024)

• A few days' rest and he'll wake up and pounce on the work that's left.

  Fiction book (1994)

• I'm onto you," she said, like a cat pouncing on a mouse.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Abruptly and with lightning speed, rushing through the air, he pounced on his prey in the water.

  Academic text (2005)

• Like a peregrine falcon he'd circle his prey, and then pounce.

  The Big Year (2011)

• Ralph, if you ever... if you ever mess up and make her unhappy, I’ll be waiting in the wings and I’ll pounce on you... like a tiger!

  Shallow Hal (2001)

• Deadly tiger sharks blend into seagrass meadows before pouncing on sea cows and sea turtles.

• The cat waited patiently, then suddenly pounced on the toy mouse.

Synonyms

S

to seize

vsto pounce

399 3.2

To take control of a place or person quickly, often by force

is more about a sudden downward attack rather than general taking

L

to leap

vsto pounce

258 1.0

To jump quickly from one place to another or make something jump

is directed downward to attack or capture rather than general jumping

J

to jump

vsto pounce

• NSFW

211 6.0

To suddenly attack someone often without warning

is specifically a sudden downward move onto a target rather than any attack

S

to snatch

vsto pounce

192 3.0

To take something quickly with your hand

is specifically a downward strike to attack or capture rather than any quick taking

J

to jump on

vsto pounce

141 1.8

To get quickly onto the back of something like a horse or bike

is an attacking downward motion onto a target rather than simply getting aboard

G

to grab

vsto pounce

69 1.6

To get someone's attention suddenly and strongly

is a physical sudden downward attack rather than an attention grabbing act

S

to swoop

vsto pounce

58 3.1

To move down quickly through the air to grab or catch something

is similar but can be done from ground as a sudden downward attack

L

to lunge

vsto pounce

44 4.1

To move forward quickly to attack or reach something

is a sudden downward strike rather than a horizontal forward movement

S

to snatch up

vsto pounce

36 4.6

To grab something quickly, often before someone else

is a swift downward attack rather than eager quick taking

S

to snap

vsto pounce

36 1.6

Grab something quickly with a sudden motion

is broader a full downward attack rather than just a quick catch

L

to leap out

vsto pounce

29 3.1

To jump out suddenly from a hiding place to surprise someone

is a sudden downward attack rather than a surprising emergence from hiding

S

to swoop up

vsto pounce

3 4.2

Pick something up quickly by moving down fast

is more focused on attacking downward rather than just picking things up

Antonyms

R

to retreat

225 4.0

To move back from a place or plan to avoid danger

How Sudden

to swoop

58 3.1

to lunge

44 4.1

to pounce

55 4.1

to spring

27 1.0

to approach

559 2.1

Surface Forms

Etymology