prone

adjective \ˈprōn\

: likely to do, have, or suffer from something

: lying with the front of your body facing downward

Full Definition of PRONE

: having a tendency or inclination : being likely <prone to forget names> <accident-prone>

a : having the front or ventral surface downward

b : lying flat or prostrate

— prone adverb

— prone·ly adverb

— prone·ness \ˈprōn-nəs\ noun

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Examples of PRONE

Hull then corralled the rebound and shoveled the puck past the left arm and leg of the prone Hasek with his forehand, touching off a wild on-ice celebration. —Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 28 June 1999
I too have been prone on my couch this week, a victim of the common cold. —Flannery O'Connor, letter, 20 Mar. 1961
My almond tree lies prone across the court, blown down by a gale. —Conrad Aiken, letter, 3 Oct. 1930
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Origin of PRONE

Middle English, from Latin pronus bent forward, tending; akin to Latin pro forward — more at for

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PRONE

Synonyms: apt, given, inclined, tending

Antonyms: supine

Synonym Discussion of PRONE

prone, supine, prostrate, recumbent mean lying down. prone implies a position with the front of the body turned toward the supporting surface <push-ups require a prone position>. supine implies lying on one's back and suggests inertness or abjectness <lying supine on the couch>. prostrate implies lying full-length as in submission, defeat, or physical collapse <a runner fell prostrate at the finish line>. recumbent implies the posture of one sleeping or resting <a patient comfortably recumbent in a hospital bed>.

synonyms see in addition liable