trance

1 of 2

noun

ˈtran(t)s 

1

: stupor, daze

2

: a sleeplike state (as of deep hypnosis) usually characterized by partly suspended animation with diminished or absent sensory and motor activity

3

: a state of profound abstraction or absorption

trancelike

ˈtran(t)s-ˌlīk 

adjective

trance

2 of 2

verb

tranced; trancing

transitive verb

: entrance, enrapture

Synonyms

Noun

• daydreaming
• reverie
• revery
• study
• woolgathering

Examples of trance in a Sentence

Noun

The spiritual healer fell into a trance.

He was staring out the window in a trance.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As her sleeping trances increase in intensity, the town’s physician Dr. Sievers (played by Ralph Ineson) recommends using one of Ellen’s corsets to tie her to the bed. —Leah Dolan, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024

Suddenly, your gaze snaps away, and you’re trapped in the trance of the beautiful stranger. —Krystyna Larrave, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Staring into the depths of this cosmic horror, Skye's mind finally breaks, leaving her in a stupefied trance. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2024

But even in their meditative trance, the Greens, then renting in Manhattan, noticed a few minor drawbacks: The 1,300-square-foot apartment lacked character, and the overall vibe felt somewhat antiseptic—think black hardware, white kitchen cabinets, and subway tiles in the bathroom. —Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English traunce, from Anglo-French transe death, coma, rapture, from transir to depart, die, from Latin transire to cross, pass by — more at transient

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1598, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

trance

noun

ˈtran(t)s

1

: stupor sense 1

2

: a sleeplike state (as of deep hypnosis)

3

: a state of being so deeply absorbed in something as to be unaware of one's surroundings

trancelike

-ˌlīk

adjective

Medical Definition

trance

noun

ˈtran(t)s 

1

: a sleeplike altered state of consciousness (as of deep hypnosis) usually characterized by partly suspended animation with diminished or absent sensory and motor activity and subsequent lack of recall

2

: a state of profound abstraction or absorption

trancelike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

or trance-like

a trancelike state