# prom

/ˈpɹɑm/ (US) · /pɹˈɒm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prom
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. school dance

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a formal dance or party held for high school students at the end of the school year.

For teachers: a formal ball or gala held for students at a high school or college, typically occurring near the end of the final academic year.

- She spent weeks looking for the perfect dress to wear to her senior prom.
- The student committee spent months fundraising to ensure the senior prom could be held at a prestigious hotel downtown.

### 2. public walk

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a short word for a promenade, which is a paved path for walking along the sea.

For teachers: a clipping of 'promenade', referring to a paved public walk, typically one along a seafront.

- We took a lovely evening stroll along the prom to watch the sunset.
- Despite the chilly coastal wind, the town's prom was crowded with tourists enjoying the traditional seaside atmosphere.

### 3. classical concert

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a type of classical music concert where some of the audience stands instead of sitting.

For teachers: a clipping of 'promenade concert', specifically referring to the series of orchestral concerts held annually in London.

- They managed to get cheap tickets for the last night of the Proms.
- Attending the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall remains a highlight of the summer season for many classical music enthusiasts.

### 6. to go to a prom

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English

to attend a school prom dance.

For teachers: to attend a formal school dance; used as an informal intransitive verb.

- Are you planning on promming with your boyfriend this year?
- The group of friends decided they would rather go promming together as a group than look for individual dates.

## Examples

- She spent weeks looking for the perfect dress for prom.
- Many students rent limousines to arrive at the prom in style with their group of friends.
- While the prom is often depicted in media as a pivotal social milestone, for many students it is simply a celebratory conclusion to their secondary education.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.