prostrate

1 of 2

adjective

pros·trate ˈprä-ˌstrāt

Synonyms of prostrate next

: stretched out with face on the ground in adoration or submission

also : lying flat

: completely overcome and lacking vitality, will, or power to rise

was prostrate from the heat

: trailing on the ground : procumbent

prostrate shrubs

prostrate

2 of 2

verb

pros·trate ˈprä-ˌstrāt

especially British prä-ˈstrāt

prostrated; prostrating

transitive verb

: to throw or put into a prostrate position

: to put (oneself) in a humble and submissive posture or state

the whole town had to prostrate itself in official apology—

Claudia Cassidy

: to reduce to submission, helplessness, or exhaustion

was prostrated with grief

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The Difference Between Prone, Supine, and Prostrate

In literal use, prone and supine indicate contrasting positions of the body: a person lying prone is facing downward while a person lying supine is face up.

Both prone and supine also have meanings that have nothing to do with physical position. Supine, in keeping with the image of one lying comfortably idle, can be applied to those who are willing to be controlled by others, or who show mental or moral slackness, as in "supine obedience" or "supine inaction."

Prone is used in the sense of "having a tendency or inclination," as in "prone to worry" or "accident-prone." This usage is similar to such words as apt, liable, or likely (as in "apt to be late"), but in many instances prone implies a vulnerability to attack or damaging influence, in keeping with the image of one lying face down and unable to see what is approaching.

The word prostrate too has meanings to do with body position. It is used with the very specific meaning of "stretched out with face on the ground in adoration or submission," but is also used simply to mean "lying flat." In figurative use, prostrate means "completely overcome and lacking vitality, will, or power to rise," as in "prostrate in fear."

So while prone, supine, and prostrate have specific meanings with regard to body position, they also come with situational connotations in many cases: prone suggests exposure or vulnerability; supine connotes a position of weakness or passivity; and prostrate implies submission in the face of being overcome.

Choose the Right Synonym for prostrate

prone, supine, prostrate, recumbent mean lying down.

prone implies a position with the front of the body turned toward the supporting surface.

push-ups require a prone position

supine implies lying on one's back and suggests inertness or abjectness.

lying supine on the couch

prostrate implies lying full-length as in submission, defeat, or physical collapse.

a runner fell prostrate at the finish line

recumbent implies the posture of one sleeping or resting.

a patient comfortably recumbent in a hospital bed

Examples of prostrate in a Sentence

Adjective The police found the body in a prostrate position. She was lying prostrate on the bed. They were prostrate from the heat. Verb an athlete prostrated for weeks by a bout of pneumonia the huge increase in gas prices really prostrated the nation's economic engine

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Adjective

On the sheer upper slopes of one of the world's most unforgiving peaks, mountaineers, determined to reach the world's second-highest summit in a record-breaking string of ascents, appear to step over the prostrate body of Muhammad Hassan - a Pakistani porter who later died. —

Eve Sampson, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2023 Parsons, having disentangled himself from a Bears tackle, retracing his steps and leaping over a prostrate Montgomery to recover the fumble. —

Dallas News, 30 Oct. 2022

Verb

In one of the most striking bag drawings, a weary African rhino is stretched and prostrated by its burden of western loans. —

Jack Denton, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024 Dozens of pilgrims prostrated themselves in prayer, in violation of the status quo that forbids Jews from praying on the Temple Mount. —

Jns Staff Report, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prostrate

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English prostrat, from Anglo-French, from Latin prostratus, past participle of prosternere, from pro- before + sternere to spread out, throw down — more at strew

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of prostrate was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Prostrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prostrate. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

prostrate

1 of 2 adjective

pros·trate ˈpräs-ˌtrāt

: stretched out with the face on the ground

: completely overcome or exhausted

prostrate with grief

: trailing on the ground

a prostrate shrub

prostrate

2 of 2 verb

prostrated; prostrating

: to throw or put into a prostrate position

: to bring to a weak or powerless condition

prostrated with grief

Medical Definition

prostrate

1 of 2 adjective

pros·trate ˈpräs-ˌtrāt

: completely overcome

was prostrate from the heat

prostrate

2 of 2 transitive verb

prostrated; prostrating

: to put into a state of extreme bodily exhaustion

prostrated by fever

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prostrate

adjective

verb

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Synonyms

Examples of prostrate in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near prostrate

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition