dancing
dancing
Pronunciation
/ˈdænsɪŋ/.
dan-:
/d/: Voiced alveolar plosive
/æ/: Near-open front unrounded vowel
/n/: Voiced alveolar nasal
-cing:
/s/: Voiceless alveolar fricative
/ɪ/: Near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/ŋ/: Voiced velar nasal
Word Form Variations
I. Noun Forms (referring to the act, event, or art of dancing):
Singular: dance (e.g., "Let's go to a dance." "She loves dance.")
Plural: dances (e.g., "They had many dances at the party." "He knows several Latin dances.")
Gerund (acting as a noun): dancing (e.g., "Dancing is a great way to exercise." "Dancing classes are popular.")
II. Verb Forms (conjugations of the verb "to dance"):
Infinitive: to dance
Base Form / Present Simple (I, you, we, they): dance (e.g., "I dance every day.")
Present Simple (he, she, it): dances (e.g., "He dances gracefully.")
Present Participle: dancing (e.g., "She is dancing." "They were dancing all night.")
Past Simple: danced (e.g., "We danced until dawn.")
Past Participle: danced (e.g., "They have danced together many times." "The waltz was danced beautifully.")
III. Adjective Forms:
Present Participle (describing something in the act of dancing): dancing (e.g., "The dancing lights created a festive mood." "The dancing couple twirled across the floor.")
Past Participle (less common as a direct adjective, but used in phrases): danced (e.g., "a well-danced routine")
Related Adjective: danceable (e.g., "The music was very danceable.")
Related Adjective: dancerly (describing qualities associated with a dancer)
IV. Adverb Form:
dancingly (e.g., "She moved dancingly through the crowd.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
I. As a Noun
Definition 1: The rhythmic movement of the body, often to music, typically performed for entertainment, social interaction, artistic expression, or celebration.
Synonyms: dance, choreography, boogie (informal), jive (informal), footwork, stepping, prancing.
Antonyms: stillness, immobility, standing (in the context of not moving).
Definition 2: An instance or specific style of performing such rhythmic body movements.
Synonyms: performance, routine, number (informal), jig, reel, waltz, tango (specific styles of dance).
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a specific instance of dance; rather, the absence of one.)
II. As a Verb (Present Participle of "to Dance")
Definition 1: The act of moving one's body rhythmically, typically to music, for pleasure, performance, or ritual.
Synonyms: grooving, swaying, twirling, spinning, jigging, bopping, frolicking, capering, prancing.
Antonyms: standing, sitting, resting, pausing, freezing (in the context of stopping movement).
Definition 2: (Figurative) To move lightly and quickly in a lively or erratic way.
Synonyms: flitting, skipping, prancing, prancing, cavorting, frolicking, shimmering (for light).
Antonyms: remaining, staying, stagnating, settling, anchoring.
III. As an Adjective
Definition 1: Engaged in or characteristic of the act of moving rhythmically to music.
Synonyms: gyrating, swaying, whirling, cavorting, frolicking, prancing (all refer to movement).
Antonyms: still, motionless, static, unmoving, stationary.
Definition 2: (Figurative) Moving lightly, quickly, or erratically, often with a vibrant or lively quality.
Synonyms: flickering, shimmering, sparkling, darting, flitting, twinkling (for lights), bouncy, lively, sprightly.
Antonyms: steady, stable, fixed, constant, unwavering, dull, stagnant.
IV. As an Adverb (Less Common, but Exists as "Dancingly")
Definition 1: In a manner that involves dancing or resembles the act of dancing; with light, rhythmic, or lively movement.
Synonyms: gracefully, rhythmically, sprightly, lithely, vivaciously, trippingly.
Antonyms: stiffly, clumsily, awkwardly, laboriously, sluggishly, motionlessly.
Examples of Use
Books:
"They found themselves drawn into the joyous swirl of dancing bodies, the music a living thing that pulsed through the very air." (From a work of fiction, illustrating the noun form)
"The history of modern dancing is a complex tapestry woven from diverse cultural threads." (From a non-fiction book on performance arts, illustrating the noun form)
Newspapers:
"Local schools are set to resume in-person dancing classes next month, after a period of virtual instruction." (Daily Nation)
"The crowd erupted in cheers as the dancing mascots entertained fans during halftime." (The Standard)
Online Publications:
"Tips for perfecting your salsa dancing technique at home." (Dance Magazine Online)
"Researchers explore the therapeutic benefits of partner dancing for seniors." (Psychology Today online)
"The TikTok trend featuring people dancing to classic rock anthems has gone viral." (Mashable)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Dialogue) "Are you coming dancing tonight, or are you just going to sit there?" (From a romantic comedy film)
Music: "I feel like dancing with you all night long." (From a popular song lyric)
Television: "The contestants showcased their contemporary dancing skills in the latest elimination round." (From a reality dance competition show)
Video Games: "Character upgrades include new dancing emotes for your avatar." (From a game review on IGN)
Social Media: (Instagram caption) "Lost in the rhythm and the joy of dancing under the stars. ✨" (User post, May 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"It's so hot, the air itself feels like it's dancing with heatwaves." (Casual conversation, illustrating figurative verb use)
"I prefer to go out dancing on weekends rather than just staying home." (Everyday conversation, illustrating the verb/gerund form)
"Did you see the incredible dancing display at the festival last night?" (Public discussion, illustrating the noun form)
10 Quotes Using Dancing
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." (Friedrich Nietzsche)
"There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them." (Vicki Baum)
"Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can, including the dancing." (Danny Kaye)
"When you are dancing, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way." (Wayne Dyer)
"We're all just dancing on the edge of the world, trying to make some sense of it all." (Haruki Murakami)
"The world is a great stage whereon every man must play a part, and mine is a dancing part." (William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well)
"Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have brains is to keep our ears from dancing?" (Lily Tomlin)
"My soul is dancing with the light." (Rumi)
"Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words, and dancing is the rhythmical creation of beauty in motion." (Edgar Allan Poe)
"Let us begin by committing ourselves to the truth, to see it like it is, and tell it like it is, to find the truth, to speak the truth, and to live the truth. When we are dancing with the truth, we are dancing with God." (Father Richard Rohr)
Etymology
The word "dancing" comes from the verb "dance," and its journey through languages tells a bit of a story.
Its roots are in Middle English (around the period of 1150 to 1500), where it appeared as "dauncen." This word, in turn, was borrowed from Anglo-Norman French "dauncer," which itself came from the Old French "dancier."
The ultimate origin of this French word "dancier" is actually a bit fuzzy. Some linguists think it might have come from a very early Germanic language (like Low Frankish "dintjan"), which had words related to "trembling" or "quivering." This suggests that early forms of dancing might have involved more vigorous, shaking movements.
What's interesting is that when "dance" (and subsequently "dancing") came into English, it replaced older Old English words for similar movements, like "sealtian" (which came from a Latin word meaning "to leap") and "hleapan" (meaning "to leap" or "run"). So, the French influence really solidified "dance" as the primary word for rhythmic body movement to music.
The first known use of "dancing" as a noun (referring to the act itself) in English dates back to before 1340. It was used in the writings of Richard Rolle, a hermit and religious author. So, for centuries, the word has been used to describe the lively, rhythmic movement of the body, often for enjoyment or expression.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Dancing
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "dancing":
Dancing on air: Feeling extremely happy or elated.
Dancing with danger: Engaging in a risky or hazardous activity.
Dancing around the subject/issue: Avoiding directly addressing a topic; being evasive.
Dancing attendance (on someone): Eagerly and assiduously trying to please or serve someone.
Dancing on a pinhead: Debating or focusing on a trivial or insignificant detail.
Dancing a jig: Expressing joy or excitement, often by actually dancing.
Dancing in the aisles: Enthusiastically enjoying a performance, often by standing up and dancing in the theater.
Dancing shoes: Shoes worn for dancing; also used figuratively to mean ready for fun or celebration.
Dancing with the devil: Engaging in a morally compromising or dangerous activity.
A song and dance: A lengthy or elaborate explanation, often intended to deceive or distract.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of dancing from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
