prosed; prosing
pro se
4 of 4adjective or adverb
ˈprō-ˈsā 
-ˈsē
: on one's own behalf : without an attorney
a pro se action
a defendant's right to proceed pro se
Examples of prose in a Sentence
Noun
… the esteemed critic James Wood reaches out to assure "the common reader" … that his prose is as free as he can make it of what James Joyce termed "the true scholastic stink" of so much academic writing.
—
Walter Kirn, New York Times Book Review, 17 Aug. 2008
Like many two-person writing teams, this one produces its share of three-legged prose and redundancy.
—James McManus, New York Times Book Review, 15 Apr. 2001
In my own work I felt a need to hurry from climax as in film montage, or even in Joycean prose with its strings of firecracker words …
—Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987
She writes in very clear prose.
Verb
'In the meantime,' said Traddles, coming back to his chair; 'and this is the end of my prosing about myself, I get on as well as I can. I don't make much, but I don't spend much … '
—Charles Dickens, David Copperfield, 1850
Walter Kirn, New York Times Book Review, 17 Aug. 2008
Like many two-person writing teams, this one produces its share of three-legged prose and redundancy.
—James McManus, New York Times Book Review, 15 Apr. 2001
In my own work I felt a need to hurry from climax as in film montage, or even in Joycean prose with its strings of firecracker words …
—Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987
She writes in very clear prose.
Verb
'In the meantime,' said Traddles, coming back to his chair; 'and this is the end of my prosing about myself, I get on as well as I can. I don't make much, but I don't spend much … '
—Charles Dickens, David Copperfield, 1850
Recent Examples on the WebSarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 17 June 2024
Poetry In a new collection of poems, short prose pieces, and even visual art, Carson explores various ideas and subjects, including Joseph Conrad, the act of swimming, foxes, Roget’s Thesaurus, the New Testament, and white bread.
—The New Yorker, 12 June 2024
Anusha Praturu, Vulture, 22 May 2024
His prose choices create a friendly, highly accessible understanding of character and setting.
—Meg Elison, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2024
Lauren Goode Michael Calore, WIRED, 2 May 2024
That could mean suggesting edits to prose and structure, or highlighting what else has been written on the subject and offering counterarguments.
—Christopher Beam, WIRED, 14 Sep. 2023
Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2024
At the trial, Southerland was representing himself pro se, which meant that during his cross-examination, Jordan had to answer questions posed by the same man who had intimidated him and lied to him as a child and who would later be convicted of murdering his mother.
—Seyward Darby, Longreads, 24 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prose 
Noun
In elegiac prose woven with humor, imagination, sensuality, and tragedy, Henry Hoke’s Open Throat is a marvel of storytelling, a universal journey through a wondrous and menacing world told by a lovable mountain lion.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 17 June 2024
Poetry In a new collection of poems, short prose pieces, and even visual art, Carson explores various ideas and subjects, including Joseph Conrad, the act of swimming, foxes, Roget’s Thesaurus, the New Testament, and white bread.
—The New Yorker, 12 June 2024
Adjective
O’Neill is a true stylist; her prose brims with intelligence, energy, and humor.
—Anusha Praturu, Vulture, 22 May 2024
His prose choices create a friendly, highly accessible understanding of character and setting.
—Meg Elison, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2024
Verb
Lauren recommends The Lights, the newest book of poetry and prose by Ben Lerner.
—Lauren Goode Michael Calore, WIRED, 2 May 2024
That could mean suggesting edits to prose and structure, or highlighting what else has been written on the subject and offering counterarguments.
—Christopher Beam, WIRED, 14 Sep. 2023
Adjective or adverb
As is typical for pro se lawsuits, most have been dismissed quickly.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2024
At the trial, Southerland was representing himself pro se, which meant that during his cross-examination, Jordan had to answer questions posed by the same man who had intimidated him and lied to him as a child and who would later be convicted of murdering his mother.
—Seyward Darby, Longreads, 24 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prose
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Prose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prose. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
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