Prone is used in the sense of "having a tendency or inclination," as in "prone to worry" or "accident-prone." PRONE definition: having a natural inclination or tendency to something; disposed; liable. See examples of prone used in a sentence. PRONE definition: 1.

Understanding the Context

likely to show a particular characteristic, usually a negative one, or to be affected by…. Learn more. If you're prone to doing something, it means you're likely to do it, have a habit of doing it, or are susceptible to it. People who are prone to getting the flu every winter should probably get a flu shot in the fall.

Key Insights

prone, prostrate, supine - Prone is lying on your face—facing downwards—which is also true for prostrate, but only in expressing adoration or begging for protection; supine is lying on your back. WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025 prone1 /proʊn/ adj. having a natural tendency toward something; disposed; liable; likely to suffer from:[be + ~ + to] was prone to anger. having the front of the body downward; lying facedown. To be prone to something, usually something bad, means to have a tendency to be affected by it or to do it.

Final Thoughts

Definition of prone adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.