Pounced: meaning, definitions and examples

sudden movement

Pounced refers to the act of jumping or leaping suddenly to catch or seize something. Commonly associated with predatory animals, it describes the swift, decisive action taken to capture prey. The term can also be used metaphorically to describe a quick, opportunistic action by a person. Overall, the word conveys an image of agility and decisiveness in movement.

dive, jump, leap, spring

Examples of usage

• The cat pounced on the toy mouse.

• He pounced on the opportunity to speak first.

• The boy pounced when he saw his chance to win.

• The hawk pounced from the branch.