noun

prank

PRANGK

noun

A playful trick or joke played on someone, usually harmless.

"The students pulled a prank on their teacher on the last day of school."

"It started as a harmless prank but ended up embarrassing everyone."

verb

To play a trick on someone as a joke.

"They pranked their roommate by covering his car in sticky notes."

How to Use Prank

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA playful trick meant to surprise, tease, or fool someone, usually in good fun.

Common mistake

A prank is meant to be playful — if it's cruel or harmful, "trick" or "hoax" fits better.

Common pairings

pull a prank prank call play a prank on

Word Forms

pranked past tense, prankt past tense, pranks plural, pranks singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The students pulled a _____ on their teacher on the last day of school.

Etymology

Origin uncertain, but likely tied to an old sense of "showing off" or "dressing ostentatiously," related to Dutch "pronken" ("to flaunt"). The modern "mischievous trick" sense grew from an earlier idea of being crafty or putting on an act.

Synonyms

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caper capriccio curvet gag gambade high jinks lark marlock monkeyshine practical joke prat reak

Related Words

gag lark idiot fool caper prat whim vulva

Rhymes for prank

bank dank tank rank yank Hank drank stank plank thank frank skank

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