Meaning & use

prostrate

adjective·Advanced

Lying flat on the ground, especially face down, often as a sign of submission, exhaustion, or grief.

See it in a sentence

The pilgrims lay prostrate before the shrine as part of the ceremony.

Exhausted after the marathon, he collapsed prostrate on the grass beyond the finish line.

A note on using this word

Do not confuse prostrate with 'prostate', the unrelated male gland; prostrate can also be a verb meaning to throw oneself down.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

uprighterect

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “prostrate”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.