Prone is used in the sense of "having a tendency or inclination," as in "prone to worry" or "accident-prone."

PRONE definition: having a natural inclination or tendency to something; disposed; liable. See examples of prone used in a sentence.

PRONE meaning: 1. likely to show a particular characteristic, usually a negative one, or to be affected by…. Learn more.

prone, prostrate, supine - Prone is lying on your face—facing downwards—which is also true for prostrate, but only in expressing adoration or begging for protection; supine is lying on your back.

Definition of prone adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

There are 12 meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective prone, five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025 prone1 /proʊn/ adj. having a natural tendency toward something; disposed; liable; likely to suffer from:[be + ~ + to] was …

If you're prone to doing something, it means you're likely to do it, have a habit of doing it, or are susceptible to it. People who are prone to getting the flu every winter should probably get a flu shot in …

adjective Lying with the front or face downward. adjective Having a tendency; inclined. Often used in combination. adverb In a prone manner. from The Century Dictionary. Bending forward with the face …

To be prone to something, usually something bad, means to have a tendency to be affected by it or to do it.