prone
prohn
Prone (adj) means Likely to suffer from or do something, usually something negative. Example: “Young children are prone to catching colds in their first year at school.”
adj
1
Likely to suffer from or do something, usually something negative.
"Young children are prone to catching colds in their first year at school."
"This part of the coast is prone to flooding during storms."
"He's prone to exaggeration when telling stories."
2
Lying flat with the face down.
"The patient was lying prone on the table so the nurse could check his back."
"In yoga class we stayed prone on our mats for a minute."
"The soldiers moved into a prone position before firing."
How to use prone
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither lying face-down, or having a tendency toward something (often bad).
Common mistake
Prone always describes lying face-down; the opposite, lying face-up, is "supine."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
prone to error
accident-prone
lie prone
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- prones
- Past tense
- proned
- Comparative
- proner, more prone
- Superlative
- pronest, most prone
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Young children are _____ to catching colds in their first year at school.
Etymology
From Latin prōnus ("bent forward, inclined"), from prō- ("forward").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for prone
See all rhymes for prone →Frequently asked questions
What does “prone” mean?
The word “prone” means likely to suffer from or do something, usually something negative. In plain terms, either lying face-down, or having a tendency toward something (often bad).
How do you pronounce “prone”?
“Prone” is pronounced prohn (/pɹoʊn/ in IPA).
How do you use “prone” in a sentence?
Here is “prone” used in a sentence: “This part of the coast is prone to flooding during storms.”
What is another word for “prone”?
Words with a similar meaning to “prone” include neveling and nuel.
What is the opposite of “prone”?
The opposite of “prone” — its antonyms — is supine.
What part of speech is “prone”?
“Prone” is an adjective.
Where does the word “prone” come from?
The word “prone” comes from Latin. From Latin prōnus ("bent forward, inclined"), from prō- ("forward").
Is “prone” a common word?
“Prone” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
What is the difference between 'prone' and 'supine'?
'Prone' means lying flat with the face down. 'Supine' is the opposite, meaning lying flat on the back with the face up.
What is the difference between 'prone' and 'liable'?
Both can mean likely to experience something, but 'prone' usually describes a natural tendency, often toward something negative, as in 'accident-prone.' 'Liable' can carry the same sense but also has a legal meaning of being responsible for something.
What preposition follows 'prone'?
When 'prone' means likely to do or suffer something, it is followed by 'to,' as in 'prone to error' or 'prone to flooding.' It can also be followed by an '-ing' verb, as in 'prone to making mistakes.'
What is the difference between 'prone' and 'prostrate'?
'Prone' simply means lying face down. 'Prostrate' also means lying stretched out on the ground, but it often adds the idea of doing so deliberately, in submission, worship, or complete exhaustion.
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