parade

1 of 2

noun

pa·​rade pə-ˈrād 

plural parades

1

a

: a public procession (see procession entry 1 sense 1a) usually to mark a holiday or event

… the Halloween parade is open to all city boys and girls 12 years and younger wearing costumes. … Participants will receive a free trick-or-treat bag and candy along the parade route …

—The Springfield (Massachusetts) Morning Union

May 30th was Memorial Day, when Americans remember those who died serving in the armed forces. … Soldiers and sailors marched in parades honouring the fallen.

—The Economist

especially : one involving many different people or groups who travel down a street usually on foot or in vehicles (such as floats)

Pinta and her family planned the parade that featured more than 90 groups, organizations and politicians.

—Windy City Times (Chicago)

Approximately 50 parade entries include marching bands, celebrities, community groups, public officials and fire/police vehicles.

—Ivy Weiss

… over 25,000 people dress extravagantly, from colorful bikinis with feathers to … gowns, while performing in steel bands and dance groups on the elaborately decorated floats that form the official parade.

—Marthe van der Wolf

The parade will feature spectacular flower-covered floats with riders in colorful costumes, beautiful dresses and striking uniforms.

—San Antonio Magazine

b

: a usually long series of people or things

… the American people watched a parade of witnesses expose the details of a political crime …

—Karen De Witt

The movie does have one campy casting conceit: a parade of cameos by stars of old TV Western series …

—David Hiltbrand

Our antipasto was a parade of little dishes containing black olives, fresh sheep cheeses, … and prosciutto.

—Robert Riche

((British)) … went to see the new street art, which is on the … end of a parade of shops …

—Tim Lewis

2

a

: the ceremonial formation of a body of troops before a superior officer

Handcrafted reproductions of miniature 18th-century tin soldiers, … these Austrian horsemen assume dramatic poses of battle and parade.

—The Smithsonian Catalog

b

: a place where troops assemble regularly for parade

3

: a pompous show : exhibition

The male booby may walk around using exaggerated, deliberate-looking leg movements, displaying his bright-blue legs and feet. Actually his parade is closer to the pick 'em up and put 'em down gait of … scuba divers.

—Michael H. Robinson

4

a

: a place for strolling (such as a public walk or square)

b

: those who promenade

parade

2 of 2

verb

paraded; parading

transitive verb

1

: to cause to maneuver or march : marshal

2

: promenade

3

: to exhibit ostentatiously

intransitive verb

1

: to march in or as if in a procession

2

: promenade

3

a

: show off

b

: masquerade

myths which parade as modern science

—M. R. Cohen

parader noun

Synonyms

Noun

• cortege
• cortège
• procession

Verb

• file
• march
• pace
• stride

Choose the Right Synonym for parade

show, exhibit, display, expose, parade, flaunt mean to present so as to invite notice or attention.

show implies no more than enabling another to see or examine.

showed her snapshots to the whole group

exhibit stresses putting forward prominently or openly.

exhibit paintings at a gallery

display emphasizes putting in a position where others may see to advantage.

display sale items

expose suggests bringing forth from concealment and displaying.

sought to expose the hypocrisy of the town fathers

parade implies an ostentatious or arrogant displaying.

parading their piety for all to see

flaunt suggests a shameless, boastful, often offensive parading.

nouveaux riches flaunting their wealth

Examples of parade in a Sentence

Noun

the annual Thanksgiving Day parade

After the team won the championship, the city threw a parade for them.

The town will put on a parade.

The marching band lined up for the homecoming parade.

Verb

The team and its fans paraded down the street.

Protesters paraded in front of City Hall.

The models paraded up and down the runway.

She paraded around on the beach in her bikini.

The victors paraded the prisoners through the streets.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Kelly organizes the annual North Glen Square holiday light parade, a pet project to build community and lift spirits. —Corina Vanek, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024

This season’s holiday programming in the Windy City kicked off mid-November with the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival on Nov. 23, which is a day-through-night event which culminates in a nighttime parade led by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. —Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024

Verb

In Copenhagen, then an overwhelmingly white city, Helga’s Aunt Katrina and Uncle Poul paraded her around as an object. —Ethelene Whitmire, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024

What does parading nominees around Capitol Hill before their confirmation hearings actually accomplish? —Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French, "show, display (of an object to demonstrate its value), show of military force, cavalry procession," going back to Middle French, from parer "to prepare, adorn, dress (a person) with care" (going back to Old French) + -ade -ade — more at pare

Verb

derivative of parade entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb

1686, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing parade

• hit parade
• identification parade
• identity parade
• on parade
• parade ground(s)
• rain on someone's parade
• ticker-tape parade

Kids Definition

parade

1 of 2 noun

pa·​rade pə-ˈrād 

1

: great show or display

2

: a formation of a body of troops before a superior officer

3

: a public procession

4

: a crowd of strolling people

the Easter parade

parade

2 of 2 verb

paraded; parading

1

a

: to cause to march

b

: to march in a parade

2

: promenade entry 2

3

: show off sense 1

parade one's knowledge

parader noun