What does prostrate mean?
Prostrate describes a person who is lying face down, usually completely, either physically or as a sign of extreme submission, humility, or emotional defeat. It is especially familiar from expressions such as 'prostrate with exhaustion' or 'prostrate with grief,' where the word conveys both physical or emotional collapse and helplessness. The word can also be used transitively as a verb, meaning to make someone bow or lie down completely, though this usage sounds somewhat formal and literary. Historically, prostrate carried a strong sense of lying before a superior in submission, which explains its continuing association with being powerless. Although its basic spatial meaning is still clear, modern speakers most often encounter it in vivid descriptions of exhaustion, grief, or overwhelming emotion.
Lying face down or entirely on the ground; overcome with exhaustion, grief, or extreme emotion; or lying in a posture of complete submission.
"The exhausted athlete remained prostrate on the track."
The phrase 'prostrate with' is common for physical or emotional collapse.
To make someone lie or bow down completely, or to overwhelm someone with exhaustion, grief, or emotion.
"The news prostrated him with grief."
This sense is relatively formal and literary.
A person who is lying down, especially in a posture of submission or exhaustion.
"The prostrate figure did not move."
The noun sense is relatively uncommon.
The plural is used for multiple people who are lying down or prostrate.
"The prostrates lay motionless beside the road."
Prostrate originally meant lying face down before a conqueror, a powerful image of powerlessness that still survives in modern expressions such as 'prostrate with exhaustion'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prostrate come from?
Prostrate comes from the Latin past participle prostratus of prosternere, a verb meaning 'to lay down' or 'prostrate oneself.' In Latin, prostratus was especially associated with lying flat in submission before a superior or deity. English borrowed the word in the early 17th century, initially in the sense of lying or bowing down in homage, and later extended it to describe people overcome by exhaustion or emotion.
Related word forms
How prostrate is actually used
The adjective is commonly used in the expression 'prostrate with' for physical collapse or emotional distress. The phrase 'prostrate before' or 'prostrate to' can convey extreme submission or homage. The verb is less common in modern usage and can sound formal or literary.
Easily confused with prostrate
As an adjective, prostrate describes lying down or being overwhelmed; as a verb, it means to force someone into that position or overwhelm them.
Prone usually means likely to do or experience something, while prostrate specifically means lying face down or overcome with exhaustion, emotion, or submission.