Word
prose
US/ˈpɹoʊz/
UK/pɹˈəʊz/
Definitions
01ordinary writing
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic
n. written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without the rhyming or rhythm of a poem.
n. language in its ordinary form, lacking the metrical structure or rhythmic constraints of verse.
日本語:散文※
“The author is famous for her clear and simple prose.”
“While his poetry was often dense and difficult to follow, his prose was remarkably lucid and accessible to the general public.”
Usage
Usually uncountable and used without an article.
02dull language
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Literary · Formal
n. language or talk that is boring and lacks imagination.
n. discourse that is dull, commonplace, or lacking in creative animation.
“The speech was full of the usual political prose and offered no new ideas.”
“The report was written in such dry, bureaucratic prose that it was nearly impossible to stay focused while reading it.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03to write dully
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
v. to write or talk in a very boring and long-winded way.
v. to write or speak in a tedious, unimaginative, or prosy manner.
“He would prose on for hours about his childhood memories.”
“The professor tended to prose about minor historical details, losing the interest of his students within the first ten minutes of the lecture.”
Real-World Examples
“By its nature, poetry expresses what can’t be said in prose; it can be resistant, you can snag on it.” “Even when not lascivious, Berry-Dee’s prose can be mercilessly cruel.” Etymology
From Middle English prose, from Old French prose, from Latin prōsa (“straightforward”) from the term prōsa ōrātiō (“a straightforward speech – i.e. without the ornaments of verse”). further etymology and related terms The term prōsa (“straightforward”), a colloquial form of prorsa (“straight forwards”), the feminine form prorsus (“straight forwards”), from Old Latin prōvorsus (“moving straight ahead”), from pro- (“forward”) + vorsus (“turned”), form of vertō (“I turn”). Compare verse.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/prose
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0