prune
10 synonyms for prune, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A dried plum.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A dried plum.
“She added a handful of prunes to the oatmeal.”
old woman
2. verb
To cut back branches from a tree or shrub to keep it healthy or shaped.
“He pruned the rose bushes back in early spring.”
How to use prune
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
prune a tree
prune the list
fingers prune up
Etymology
From Old French prune, from Vulgar Latin *pruna, ultimately from Ancient Greek proumnon, "plum" — prune and plum are actually the same word, borrowed at different times.
Full origin of prune →Frequently asked questions
What does “prune” mean?
The word “prune” means a dried plum. In plain terms, either a dried plum, or the act of trimming away excess (branches, text, wrinkled fingers).
How do you pronounce “prune”?
“Prune” is pronounced proon (/pɹun/ in IPA).
How do you use “prune” in a sentence?
Here is “prune” used in a sentence: “She added a handful of prunes to the oatmeal.”
What is another word for “prune”?
Words with a similar meaning to “prune” include old woman.
What part of speech is “prune”?
Depending on how it is used, “prune” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “prune” come from?
The word “prune” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French prune, from Vulgar Latin *pruna, ultimately from Ancient Greek proumnon, "plum" — prune and plum are actually the same word, borrowed at different times.
How many meanings does “prune” have?
“Prune” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dried plum.
