dancing

IPA/ˈdɑːnsɪŋ/
KK[dˈænsɪŋ]IPA/ˈdænsɪŋ/

dancing — noun

1. following the beat of a piece of music by moving your body and feet in a rhythmi

1.nounA2
Definition

following the beat of a piece of music by moving your body and feet in a rhythmic way

Example

Élise loves dancing to Latin music on Friday nights.

gerund as object after 'love'

Takeshi joined a dancing class to prepare for his sister's wedding.

dancing as noun modifier: dancing class

Common collocations
  • dancing lessons
  • dancing shoes
  • dancing partner
  • dancing competition
  • dancing class
  • dancing skills
  • ballroom dancing
  • go dancing
Synonyms
  • dance

    the noun 'dance' can refer to the activity too, but it is more general and also means a specific routine or a social event

Grammar Patterns

dancing + noun modifier (e.g. dancing shoes)

go + dancing

Usage Note

Dancing is an uncountable noun — you cannot say 'a dancing' to refer to the general activity. To refer to a single event or type, use 'a dance' instead (e.g. 'The tango is a beautiful dance').

Common Mistakes

I go to dancing every week.
I go dancing every week.
Use 'go dancing', not 'go to dancing'.
Dancing are fun.
Dancing is fun.
Dancing is uncountable and takes a singular verb.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While 'dancing' focuses on the ongoing activity or skill of moving to music, 'dance' (as a noun) is broader: it can mean the general activity ('the study of dance'), a specific routine ('a traditional Japanese dance'), or a social event ('the school dance'). 'Performance' implies an audience and is more formal — a dance performance is a show put on for viewers, whereas 'dancing' can happen anywhere, even alone at home. Use 'dancing' when you want to emphasise the action itself ('I love dancing'), and 'dance' when referring to a category, an event, or a named style ('she teaches modern dance').

dance ↗dancing ↗performance ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • go dancing
  • take dancing lessons
  • teach dancing

Prepositions

Etymology

GermanicOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'dancing' comes from the Old French word 'dancier' (to dance), which probably entered French from a West Germanic source. It has been used in English since the 1300s to describe moving rhythmically to music.