Proud vs. Pride: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
'Proud' is an adjective describing a feeling of self-respect or pleasure in achievements, while 'pride' is a noun referring to the emotion of satisfaction derived from one's own or others' successes.
Key Differences
'Proud' is an adjective used to express a high opinion of oneself or a feeling of pleasure from one's own achievements or those of someone close. It often conveys a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem. On the other hand, 'pride' is a noun that refers to the emotion or feeling of self-respect and satisfaction from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
In usage, 'proud' is often used to describe a person's state of feeling. For example, a parent might feel proud of their child's accomplishments. 'Pride,' however, is used to denote the overall feeling or emotion, as in the pride one feels when achieving a personal goal. It can also refer to a group's expression of shared dignity and respect, such as national pride or cultural pride.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
The term 'proud' can sometimes have a negative connotation, implying arrogance or conceit when someone has an excessively high opinion of themselves. 'Pride,' however, while it can also be negative in the sense of hubris or excessive self-esteem, is generally seen as a positive emotion related to self-respect and joy in one's or others' accomplishments.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
'Proud' is an adjective and thus modifies nouns, typically describing a characteristic of a person or a group. 'Pride' as a noun can be a subject or object in a sentence and represents the concept or emotion itself. For instance, 'pride' can be something that is felt, shown, or shared.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
The expressions using these words also differ. Phrases like 'take pride in' or 'swallow one's pride' cannot be formed using 'proud.' Similarly, 'proud' is used in personal descriptions, such as 'proud parent,' which cannot be directly replaced with 'pride.'
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Usage
Describes a feeling or attitude
Refers to the emotion or concept itself
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Dec 09, 2023
Connotation
Can imply arrogance if excessive
Generally positive, but can be negative in excess
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Dec 09, 2023
Modification
Modifies nouns (e.g., proud parent)
Subject or object in sentences (e.g., feeling pride)
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Dec 09, 2023
Expressions
Cannot form certain phrases like 'pride in'
Used in phrases like 'take pride in'
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Dec 09, 2023
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Proud and Pride Definitions
Proud
Feeling satisfaction from personal achievements
He was proud to have completed the project.
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Nov 26, 2023
Pride
A sense of collective self-esteem shared by a group
National pride was high during the celebrations.
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Nov 26, 2023
Proud
Exhibiting self-respect or dignity
He stood proud despite the challenges.
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Nov 26, 2023
Pride
Pleasure derived from association with someone
The teacher's pride in her students' success was clear.
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Nov 26, 2023
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Pride
A confident and superior attitude
His pride became evident in his speech.
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Nov 26, 2023
Proud
Feeling pleasurable satisfaction over an act, possession, quality, or relationship by which one measures one's stature or self-worth
Proud of one's child.
Proud to serve one's country.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement, possession, or association
Parental pride.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Occasioning or being a reason for pride
A proud moment when she received her diploma.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
A cause or source of pleasure or satisfaction; the best of a group or class
These soldiers were their country's pride.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Filled with or showing excessive self-esteem
A proud and haughty aristocrat.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
(Zoology) A group of lions, usually consisting of several related females and their offspring and a small number of unrelated adult males.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Feeling honoured (by something); feeling happy or satisfied about an event or fact; gratified.
I am proud of Sivu’s schoolwork.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
That makes one feel proud (of something one did)
That was not the proudest thing I did but I can’t deny it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
To indulge (oneself) in a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction
I pride myself on this beautiful garden.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Possessed of a due sense of what one deserves or is worth.
I was too proud to apologise.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
The quality or state of being proud; an unreasonable overestimation of one's own superiority in terms of talents, looks, wealth, importance etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve and often contempt of others.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
A sense of one's own worth, and scorn for what is beneath or unworthy of oneself; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; rejection of shame
He took pride in his work.
He had pride of ownership in his department.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Generating a sense of pride; being a cause for pride.
It was a proud day when we finally won the championship.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
(Of things) standing upwards as in the manner of a proud person; stately or majestic.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-congratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Standing out or raised; swollen.
After it had healed, the scar tissue stood proud of his flesh.
The weld was still a bit proud of the panel, so she ground it down flush.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
(obsolete) Excited by sexual desire; specifically of a female animal: in heat.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Feeling or manifesting pride, in a good or bad sense
Nor much expectA foe so proud will first the weaker seek.
O death, made proud with pure and princely beauty !
And shades impervious to the proud world's glare.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
Lust; sexual desire; especially, excitement of sexual appetite in a female animal.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Having a feeling of high self-respect or self-esteem; exulting (in); elated; - often with of; as, proud of one's country.
Are we proud men proud of being proud ?
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
A company of lions or other large felines.
A pride of lions often consists of a dominant male, his harem and their offspring, but young adult males 'leave home' to roam about as bachelors pride until able to seize/establish a family pride of their own.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Giving reason or occasion for pride or self-gratulation; worthy of admiration; grand; splendid; magnificent; admirable; ostentatious.
Till tower, and dome, and bridge-way proudAre mantled with a golden cloud.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Excited by sexual desire; - applied particularly to the females of some animals.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride;
Proud parents
Proud of his accomplishments
A proud moment
Proud to serve his country
A proud name
Proud princes
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
(reflexive) To take or experience pride in something; to be proud of it.
I pride myself on being a good judge of character.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Having or displaying great dignity or nobility;
A gallant pageant
Lofty ships
Majestic cities
Proud alpine peaks
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
A small European lamprey (Petromyzon branchialis); - called also prid, and sandpiper.
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Oct 19, 2023
Proud
Feeling pleased with oneself or another's achievements
She was proud of her team's performance.
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Nov 26, 2023
Pride
The quality or state of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank, etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.
Those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
A sense of one's own worth, and abhorrence of what is beneath or unworthy of one; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; proud delight; - in a good sense.
Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride.
A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation; disdain.
Let not the foot of pride come against me.
That hardly we escaped the pride of France.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-gratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc.
Lofty trees yclad with summer's pride.
I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
A bold peasantry, their country's pride.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
Show; ostentation; glory.
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
Highest pitch; elevation reached; loftiness; prime; glory; as, to be in the pride of one's life.
A falcon, towering in her pride of place.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness; hence, lust; sexual desire; esp., an excitement of sexual appetite in a female beast.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
To indulge in pride, or self-esteem; to rate highly; to plume; - used reflexively.
Pluming and priding himself in all his services.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
Satisfaction with your (or another's) achievements;
He takes pride in his son's success
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
The trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below your standards
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
Unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem (personified as one of the deadly sins)
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Oct 19, 2023
Pride
A feeling of satisfaction from one's own achievements
His pride in his work was evident.
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Nov 26, 2023
Pride
Self-respect and dignity
She maintained her pride even in difficult times.
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Nov 26, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How is 'proud' used in a sentence?
As an adjective, e.g., "She is proud of her work."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
What does 'proud' mean?
Feeling pleasure from one's own or another's achievements.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
Is 'pride' always positive?
Mostly, but excessive pride can be seen negatively.
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Dec 09, 2023
Can 'pride' refer to a collective feeling?
Yes, it often refers to shared self-respect or dignity.
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Dec 09, 2023
Can pride be humbling?
Yes, when it involves acknowledging others' contributions.
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Dec 09, 2023
What does 'pride' mean?
The emotion of satisfaction or self-respect from achievements or qualities.
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Dec 09, 2023
Can 'pride' be a community event?
Yes, like Pride Parades celebrating LGBTQ+ communities.
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Dec 09, 2023
How is 'pride' used in a sentence?
As a noun, e.g., "He takes pride in his heritage."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
Is 'proud' used in formal writing?
Yes, it's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
Is 'pride' a complex concept?
It can be, encompassing various aspects of self-respect and dignity.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
Are there idioms using 'proud' or 'pride'?
Yes, like "bursting with pride" or "swallow one's pride."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
Is 'pride' an individual or collective feeling?
It can be both individual and collective.
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Dec 09, 2023
How do you teach children to be proud?
By encouraging them to value their and others' achievements.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.