pounce

1 of 5

noun (1)

: the claw of a bird of prey

pounce

2 of 5

verb (1)

pounced; pouncing

intransitive verb

1
a
: to swoop upon and seize something with or as if with talons
b
: to seize upon and make capital of something (such as another's blunder or an opportunity)
2
: to make a sudden assault or approach

pounce

3 of 5

noun (2)

: the act of pouncing

pounce

4 of 5

verb (2)

pounced; pouncing

transitive verb

: to dust, rub, finish, or stencil with pounce

pounce

5 of 5

noun (3)

1
: a fine powder formerly used to prevent ink from spreading
2
: a fine powder for making stenciled patterns

Examples of pounce in a Sentence

Verb (1) the muggers pounced on the unsuspecting tourists as soon as they rounded the corner
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.
Verb
Democrats pounced on Trump for Project 2025 during the election season, calling it a warning of what is to come under a second Trump term. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2024 Then, the Dodgers pounced, as World Series MVP Freddie Freeman drove in two runs with a single, and then Teoscar Hernandez drove in another pair with a double to tie the game. Ryan Morik, Fox News, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
There might have been an unconscious malice — a glee — to my pounce. Lili Anolik, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024 Haaland pounces on the loose ball and finishes in typically clinical style. Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pounce 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, punching tool, dagger, talon — more at punch

Verb (2)

Middle French poncer, from ponce

Noun (3)

French ponce pumice, from Middle French, from Late Latin pomic-, pomex, alteration of Latin pumic-, pumex — more at foam

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1841, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1535, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1705, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pounce was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near pounce

Cite this Entry

“Pounce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pounce. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pounce

verb
ˈpau̇n(t)s
pounced; pouncing
1
: to swoop down on and seize something
a cat waiting to pounce
2
: to make a sudden assault or approach
a clerk pounced on me immediately
pounce noun

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