Prank: meaning, definitions and examples

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prank

[ præŋk ]

Noun / Verb

^{Context #1 | Noun}

funny

A playful or mischievous act intended to cause amusement or confusion.

Synonyms

hoax, joke, trick.

Examples of usage

He pulled a prank on his friend by hiding his keys.
The prank involved putting a fake spider in her desk drawer.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

joke

To play a trick or practical joke on someone.

Synonyms

dupe, hoax, trick.

Examples of usage

He loves to prank his coworkers by switching their computer screens.
She pranked her brother by pretending to be a ghost in the dark.

Translations

Translations of the word "prank" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pegadinha

🇮🇳 मजाक

🇩🇪 Streich

🇮🇩 lelucon

🇺🇦 жарт

🇵🇱 żart

🇯🇵 いたずら

🇫🇷 farce

🇪🇸 broma

🇹🇷 şaka

🇰🇷 장난

🇸🇦 مزحة

🇨🇿 žert

🇸🇰 žart

🇨🇳 恶作剧

🇸🇮 potegavščina

🇮🇸 gab

🇰🇿 әзіл

🇬🇪 ხუმრობა

🇦🇿 zarafat

🇲🇽 broma

Etymology

The word 'prank' is believed to have originated around the 16th century, possibly derived from the Middle Dutch word 'prancke' which means 'a trick'. Pranks have been a part of human culture for centuries, often used for entertainment or to playfully deceive others. Over time, pranks have evolved with the changing social dynamics and technology, becoming a popular form of amusement and social interaction.

See also: prankish, prankishness, pranks, prankster.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,354, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.

...
26351 indigestible
26352 cruciform
26353 cupful
26354 prank
26355 reek
26356 topaz
26357 teaming
...