pride

1 of 2

noun

plural prides
1
: the quality or state of being proud: such as
a
: reasonable self-esteem : confidence and satisfaction in oneself : self-respect
There were no injuries, except for a few cases of severely wounded pride.McCandlish Phillips
… it is so painful a thing to miss what you want when you have done your very best to obtain it! To struggle in vain always hurts the prideAnthony Trollope
Dressing to the nines on a tight budget is a matter of pride. [=something done in order to maintain one's pride] "When you're young you don't have to care about fashion," says Mr Wu, 82. "But when you're old, you have to."The Economist
b
: pleasure that comes from some relationship, association, achievement, or possession that is seen as a source of honor, respect, etc.
Family members watched with pride as the students took the stage.
professional/civic pride
a beautifully decorated house that shows great pride of ownership
craftspeople who take pride in their work
There's a real sense of pride that the neighborhood finally has a destination restaurant.Ruth Reichl
c
: exaggerated self-esteem : conceit
Almost all the ancient vices—envy, wrath, greed, pride and, notably, lust—can, and will, be facilitated by the internet over the course of the show.John Anderson
Ingratitude was condemned …, the sinfulness of pride was pointed out—together with the proverbial fact that it "goes before a fall."Joseph Conrad
He [Henry Worsley] was, he knew, blinded by pride; as he later wrote, he could not be seen as "admitting to weakness."David Grann
Interest and ambition exercise considerable sway among them; but pride and vanity none: the distinctions of rank produce little impression.Germaine de Staël
Swallow your pride and ask for help—if you're lucky enough to have it.Jessica Irvine
also : behavior that reflects such an attitude
I would gladly suffer his haughty pride and sharp tongue for her sake. Diane Stanley
2
a
sometimes Pride : respect and appreciation for oneself and others as members of a group and especially a marginalized group : solidarity with a group based on a shared identity, history, and experience
Growing up in the 70s, she was immersed in shows of Black pride, activism, and bold style.Jasmine Browley
a symbol of gay Pride
b
usually Pride : an event or series of events celebrating and affirming the rights, equality, and culture of LGBTQ people
… Madrid's take on Pride … starts each year in late June and runs through early July. What used to be a small celebration in the late 1970s has since grown into one of the largest celebrations of LGBTQ pride in Europe.Meena Thiruvengadam
celebrating Gay/LGBT/LGBTQ Pride
often used before another noun
June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month. This month-long celebration demonstrates how LGBTQ Americans have strengthened our country, by using their talent and creativity to help create awareness and goodwill. The first Pride March in New York City was held on June 28, 1970, on the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.Library of Congress
The rainbow colors of the flags that wave at Pride parades are meant to celebrate the diversity of a community that includes people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and—all the rest.Sean Thomas-Breitfeld
3
: a source of pride : a person or thing that makes you feel proud
The school's award-winning choir is the pride of the town.
Outside the house, the pride of the property is an eighteenth-century herb garden.Joseph J. Thorndike, Jr.
4
a
: a group of lions living together
Male lions stay with the pride until they are displaced by other male lions. Lionesses stay forever.John Corry
The lions' basic social unit is the pride—a permanent social group consisting of two to eighteen adult females and their offspring and one to seven resident adult males.Anne Pusey and Craig Packer
b
: a showy or pretentious group
the queen surrounded by a pride of gaily dressed ladies
a pompous pride of civic notables
5
a
archaic : ostentatious or showy display
Farewell the plumed troop and the big wars / That make ambition virtue! O, farewell, … The royal banner, and all quality, / Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!William Shakespeare
Since the foundation of Rome, no general had more nobly deserved a triumph than Aurelian; nor was a triumph ever celebrated with superior pride and magnificence.Edward Gibbon
b
: the most active, thriving, or satisfying stage or period : prime
in the pride of one's youth
In the pride of her beauty she had been married …William Makepeace Thackeray

pride

2 of 2

verb

prided; priding

transitive verb

: to indulge (oneself) in pride
now usually used in the phrase pride oneself on to describe taking pride in some ability, quality, etc.
She was a girl who prided herself on her carefully blasé and supercilious attitude towards life.P. G. Wodehouse

Examples of pride in a Sentence

Noun Being able to work again gave him his pride back. Getting caught cheating stripped him of his pride. Pride would not allow her to give up. It's a matter of pride that he does the work all by himself. The novel is about a family consumed with pride and vanity. They needed help, but their pride wouldn't let them ask for it. I had to swallow my pride and admit I made a mistake. He showed a great pride in his family. These young people are the pride of their community. Verb he prides himself on the quality of his writing
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And there’s a sort of pride that’s in place that maybe was not quite there before. Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 In Zones 8 and 9, pride of Barbados acts like a deciduous shrub and returns after winter. Marissa Wu, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2024 Caitlin Clark mania has delivered something else: a swell of affection and pride for the land of corn, state fairs, and now women’s basketball. Kendra Nordin Beato, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2024 Adopting a new fandom also helped cement local pride and friendships, including a buddy who taught me to love baseball’s brooding pace. Steven Leckart, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Kevin Costner is beaming with pride over his son Hayes' big-screen debut. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 In the Vice-Presidency, Biden took bristly pride in defying the political wisdom of younger advisers. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 This reverence stemmed from ancestral pride; Mencken’s paternal grandfather came from Saxony. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2024 Investors can take pride in being part of a solution that addresses a pressing social issue while generating returns on their investments. Andrew Keel, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Verb
The company prides itself on providing support online and over the phone. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 But the large number is putting a strain even on cities like New York that have traditionally prided themselves as being receptors of immigrants from around the world. Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Donald Trump prides himself on his economic record in office, yet Nouriel Roubini warns his reelection would deal a blow to global growth, stoke inflation, and fuel fiscal deficits. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 Despite changing times, Burnett & Sons prides itself on staying true to its original values. Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024 That seemed like a fitting feat for a city that prides itself on its compassion. Miriam Jordan, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2024 And Isgur says that in the legal world, conservatives and liberals still pride themselves on their trans-ideological friendships, as Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Antonin Scalia used to do. Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2024 Parisians pride themselves on their skincare, and therefore do not typically wear much makeup. Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2024 Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Reserve Ritz Carlton Reserve properties also pride themselves on offering more unique programming, especially as travelers continue to demonstrate more interest and willingness to spend money on experiences. Byrachel King, Fortune, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pride.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English prȳde, from prūd proud — more at proud

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pride was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near pride

Cite this Entry

“Pride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pride. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pride

1 of 2 noun
1
: too high an opinion of one's own ability or worth : a feeling of being better than others
2
: a reasonable and justifiable sense of one's own worth : self-respect
3
: a sense of pleasure that comes from some act or possession
4
: something of which one is proud
our pride and joy
5
: a group of lions

pride

2 of 2 verb
prided; priding
: to think highly of (oneself)

Biographical Definition

Pride

biographical name

Thomas died 1658 English Parliamentarian commander

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