# trance

/ˈtɹæns/ (US) · /tɹˈɑːns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trance
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. altered state of mind

noun · CEFR B2

a state where you are awake but not aware of your surroundings, like when you are dreaming or under hypnosis.

For teachers: a state of detached consciousness or reduced external awareness, often induced by hypnosis, meditation, or extreme focus.

- The hypnotist put the man into a deep trance to help him stop smoking.
- Deeply absorbed in the repetitive task, the artisan fell into a productive trance, oblivious to the noise of the busy street outside.

### 2. electronic music

noun · CEFR B2

a type of electronic dance music with a fast beat and repeating sounds that feel hypnotic.

For teachers: a genre of electronic dance music characterized by a tempo between 125 and 150 bpm, repetitive melodic phrases, and a musical form that builds up and down.

- The DJ played a mix of trance and house music all night.
- The festival's main stage was dedicated entirely to trance, featuring long sets with atmospheric builds and driving percussion.

### 3. to put into a trance

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to make someone enter a dream-like state or to fascinate them completely.

For teachers: to induce a state of altered consciousness or to captivate someone's attention entirely.

- The beautiful music seemed to trance the entire audience into silence.
- The rhythmic swaying of the tall grass under the moonlight seemed to trance the weary travelers into a quiet, reflective mood.

### 4. to walk with difficulty

verb · CEFR C2 · Dialect

to walk heavily or with effort, like walking through deep mud.

For teachers: to walk heavily or trudge with difficulty over a distance.

- We had to trance through the snow for miles to reach the cabin.
- After the truck broke down, the farmers had to trance across the muddy fields to fetch help from the nearest village.

## Examples

- The music was so repetitive that it put the crowd into a trance.
- The hypnotist spoke in a low, rhythmic voice until the volunteer fell into a deep trance.
- Deeply absorbed in her research, she remained in a scholarly trance for hours, completely oblivious to the ticking clock or the fading light in the library.

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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.