1
: feeling or showing pride: such as
a
: having or displaying excessive self-esteem
b
: much pleased : exultant
c
: having proper self-respect
2
a
: marked by stateliness : magnificent
b
: giving reason for pride : glorious
the proudest moment in her life
3
: vigorous, spirited
a proud steed
4
chiefly British : raised above a surrounding area
a proud design on a stamp
proudly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for proud

proud, arrogant, haughty, lordly, insolent, overbearing, supercilious, disdainful mean showing scorn for inferiors.

proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

Examples of proud in a Sentence

They are the proud parents of a hero. I was proud that I never gave in. She's the proud owner of a new car. Her proudest accomplishment was to finish school.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The coaches say both teams are proud of their season accomplishment and consider playing in the Pop-Tarts bowl at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium to be a privilege. Chris Hays, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Dec. 2024 At the end of the video, the proud mom threw both of her hands into the air and smiles at her son in awe. Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024 Watching from the sidelines is Debra, Colwill’s proud mother. Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024 No love will be lost between neighbours, and top of the league in South America is a spot that both proud nations will want to claim. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for proud 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English prūd, probably from Old French prod, prud, prou advantageous, just, wise, bold, from Late Latin prode advantage, advantageous, back-formation from Latin prodesse to be advantageous, from pro-, prod- for, in favor + esse to be — more at pro-, is

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of proud was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near proud

Cite this Entry

“Proud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proud. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

1
a
: having or displaying excessive self-esteem
a proud manner
b
: much pleased
proud parents of a hero
c
: having proper self-respect
too proud to beg
2
: magnificent sense 1, glorious
a proud record
3
: vigorous sense 1, spirited
a proud horse
proudly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on proud

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