What does "pride" mean?
The quality or state of being proud.; A sense of one's own worth; reasonable self-esteem and satisfaction (in oneself, in one's work, one's family, etc).
Pride
/pɹaɪd/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The quality or state of being proud.; A sense of one's own worth; reasonable self-esteem and satisfaction (in oneself, in one's work, one's family, etc).
- Grammar: pride is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: accomplishment, acedia, afterglow, amour propre.
- Useful contrasts: meekest, silly, degradation.
- Usage evidence: Hey, I may have no money, but I still have my pride.
How to use "pride"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pride" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pride" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pride" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pride" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pride" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "accomplishment" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "pride", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The quality or state of being proud.; A sense of one's own worth; reasonable self-esteem and satisfaction (in oneself, in one's work, one's family, etc). countable, uncountable
"He swelled with pride as he held the trophy. His family watched with pride from the bleachers."
- 2 The small European lamprey species Petromyzon branchialis. uncountable
- 3 A festival or other event, usually involving a march or parade and organized annually within a city, to celebrate the experiences and identities of LGBTQ people and to promote their interests and rights.
"The Penn. Council for Sexual Minorities and the Penn. Rural Gay Caucus have rescheduled their gay conference for April 7, 8 and 9. Pride '78 has been expanded following the snowstorm which postponed the conference in January. […] Groups, merchants, craftspeople and individuals interested in attending Pride '78 should call 717-697-3482 or 215-437-2642."
- 4 unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem (personified as one of the deadly sins) wordnet
- 5 The quality or state of being proud.; An unreasonable overestimation of one's own superiority in terms of talents, or looks, wealth, importance, etc., which comes across as being haughty, lofty, and often showing contempt of others; exaggerated self-worth. countable, uncountable
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 A movement encouraging a positive approach to personal identity amongst LGBTQ people.
- 7 the trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below your standards wordnet
- 8 Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment that reflects such an attitude (of haughtiness); arrogance. countable, uncountable
"Pride goeth before the fall."
- 9 a feeling of self-respect and personal worth wordnet
- 10 Something or someone of which one is proud; that which is the source of self-congratulation and self-esteem (whether reasonable or arrogant), for example countable, uncountable
"Her long ginger hair is her pride."
- 11 satisfaction with your (or another's) achievements wordnet
- 12 Show; ostentation; glory. countable, uncountable
"lofty trees yclad with summer's pride"
- 13 a group of lions wordnet
- 14 Highest level or rank; (figurative) elevation reached; loftiness or glory. countable, uncountable
"a falcon, towering in her pride of place"
- 15 Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness. countable, uncountable
- 16 Lust or heat; sexual desire (especially in a female animal) archaic, countable, uncountable
- 17 A company of lions or other large felines. collective, countable, uncountable
"A pride of lions often consists of a dominant male, his harem and their offspring, but young adult males 'leave home' to roam about as bachelors pride until able to seize/establish a family pride of their own."
- 18 Alternative letter-case form of Pride (“festival for LGBT people”). alt-of, countable, uncountable
"For quotations using this term, see Citations:pride."
Verb
- 1 To take or experience pride in something; to be proud of it. reflexive
"I pride myself on being a good judge of character."
- 2 be proud of wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Hey, I may have no money, but I still have my pride."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pride"?
Common synonyms include: accomplishment, acedia, afterglow, amour propre, anger, army.
How do you use "pride" in a sentence?
Hey, I may have no money, but I still have my pride.
How do you pronounce "pride"?
Pronounced /pɹaɪd/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English pryde, pride, from Old English prȳde, prȳte (“pride”) (compare Old Norse prýði (“bravery, pomp”)), derivative of Old English prūd (“proud”). More at proud. The verb derives from the noun, at least since the 12th century.
Etymology 2
From Middle English pryde, from Middle Low German lampride, from Medieval Latin lampreda.
Etymology 3
From gay pride, Gay Pride.
Etymology 4
The word has two main origins: * A nickname from Welsh prid (“precious, dear”). * From pride, a nickname for a vain or haughty person.