# prostrate

/ˈpɹɑstɹeɪt/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prostrate
Updated: 2026-10-17

## Definition

lying flat on the ground with your face pointing down. People often do this to show deep respect or because they are too tired or upset to move.

For teachers: lying stretched out on the ground with one's face downwards. Often used to describe a physical position of submission, adoration, or complete exhaustion.

## Examples

- He lay prostrate on the floor after the long race.
- The exhausted hikers were found prostrate on the trail, unable to take another step toward the summit.
- In many ancient cultures, subjects were required to remain prostrate before the throne until the monarch granted them permission to rise and speak.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was prostate on the ground" but "He was prostrate on the ground" — Learners often confuse 'prostrate' (lying down) with 'prostate' (a gland in the male body).

## Usage notes

- Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'lie', 'fall', or 'remain'.

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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.