proud
PROWD
Proud (adj) means feeling pleased and satisfied about something one has done or achieved. Example: “I'm proud of my little brother for learning to swim so quickly.”
adj
1
Feeling pleased and satisfied about something one has done or achieved.
"I'm proud of my little brother for learning to swim so quickly."
"She was proud of finishing the marathon."
"Her parents were proud when she graduated."
2
Having an excessively high opinion of oneself; arrogant.
"The proud king refused to listen to any advice from his council."
"Don't be so proud that you turn down help when you need it."
"He was too proud to admit he was wrong."
How to use proud
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFeeling good satisfaction about an achievement, or (less positively) thinking too highly of yourself.
Common pairings
proud of
make someone proud
proud moment
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like proud.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- prouder, more proud
- Superlative
- proudest, most proud
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I'm _____ of my little brother for learning to swim so quickly.
Etymology
From Old English prūd, likely from Old French prod, prud ("brave, worthy"), from Late Latin prōde, "useful" — ultimately tied to the same root as "pride."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for proud
See all rhymes for proud →Frequently asked questions
What does “proud” mean?
The word “proud” means feeling pleased and satisfied about something one has done or achieved. In plain terms, feeling good satisfaction about an achievement, or (less positively) thinking too highly of yourself.
How do you pronounce “proud”?
“Proud” is pronounced PROWD (/ˈpɹaʊ̯d/ in IPA).
How do you use “proud” in a sentence?
Here is “proud” used in a sentence: “She was proud of finishing the marathon.”
What is another word for “proud”?
Words with a similar meaning to “proud” include vain and conceited.
What is the opposite of “proud”?
The opposite of “proud” — its antonyms — are ashamed, humiliated, embarrassed, humble and meek.
What part of speech is “proud”?
“Proud” is an adjective.
Where does the word “proud” come from?
The word “proud” comes from Late Latin. From Old English prūd, likely from Old French prod, prud ("brave, worthy"), from Late Latin prōde, "useful" — ultimately tied to the same root as "pride.".
Is “proud” a common word?
“Proud” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between proud and arrogant?
Being proud means feeling pleased and satisfied about something you or someone close to you has achieved — a healthy, positive feeling. Being arrogant means having an exaggerated sense of your own importance and looking down on others. Pride becomes a fault only when it tips into that kind of conceit and superiority.
Is 'proud' a positive or negative word?
It can be both. When it describes satisfaction in a genuine achievement — your own or a loved one's — it is warmly positive. But 'proud' can also mean having too high an opinion of yourself, as in 'too proud to apologise.' The tone depends entirely on context and on what the pride is directed at.
What is the opposite of proud?
It has two opposites, depending on the sense. For the feeling of satisfaction, the opposite is 'ashamed' or 'embarrassed' — feeling bad rather than pleased about something. For the negative sense of being self-important, the opposite is 'humble' or 'modest.' Which one applies depends on which meaning of 'proud' you have in mind.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include proud:
