prone Meaning & Definition
What Does Prone Mean?
Prone is an adjective that means Lying face-down. It is also used to mean Of the hand, forearm or foot: turned facing away from the body; with the thumb inward or big toe downward. As a verb, it means To place in a prone position, to place face down.
Prone: Key Facts
| Part of speech | adjective, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //pɹəʊn// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | prostrate, unerect and neveling |
| Antonyms | supine |
| Comparative / superlative | proner, pronest |
| Verb forms | prones, proning, proned |
Prone Definition (Adjective)
- Lying face-down.
prone position
- Of the hand, forearm or foot: turned facing away from the body; with the thumb inward or big toe downward.
The hand is in the prone position typically when using a keyboard; and the forearm is then also in the prone position; when the foot is resting on the inner side of the sole, it is in the prone position.
- Having a downward inclination or slope.
- Shooting from a position while lying down.
- Predisposed, liable, inclined, given (to something) (most often, specifically to being befallen by an unsought bad outcome, rather than to undertaking a willful behavior or to having a happy accident).
prone to failure
Prone as a Verb
- To place in a prone position, to place face down.
Adjective
- Lying face downward.
prone position
- Predisposed, liable, inclined.
prone to failure
Synonyms of Prone
Prone synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Prone
Prone in a Sentence
prone position
The hand is in the prone position typically when using a keyboard; and the forearm is then also in the prone position; when the foot is resting on the inner side of the sole, it is in the prone position.
prone to failure
Word Forms & Grammar
prone (comparative proner or more prone, superlative pronest or most prone)
prone (third-person singular simple present prones, present participle proning, simple past and past participle proned)
Words That Rhyme With Prone
Origin of Prone
From Middle English prone, proone, proon, from Latin prōnus (“turned forward, bent or inclined”), from prō (“forward”).
How to Pronounce Prone
The standard pronunciation of prone is //pɹəʊn//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Quick Answers About Prone
Is prone an adjective or a verb?
Prone is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for prone?
Words with a similar meaning to prone include prostrate, unerect and neveling. See the full list of prone synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of prone?
The opposite of prone is supine.
What is the past tense of prone?
The past tense of prone is proned. The present participle is proning.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of prone?
The comparative form is proner and the superlative form is pronest.