prone

Everyday

1. Prone to something means likely to have it or do it, often something bad: prone to colds, prone to flooding. tree →
2. Lying prone means lying flat on your front, face down. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and safety lessons, "flood-prone" or "earthquake-prone" areas are places where these disasters often happen. In health, "accident-prone" describes someone who often has accidents. In first aid and PE, prone (face down) is the opposite of supine (face up). Phrases: prone to, accident-prone, injury-prone.

Examples

• My little brother is prone to nosebleeds. tree →
• This road is prone to flooding after heavy rain. tree →
• Japan is an earthquake-prone country. tree →
• I'm accident-prone; I tripped twice today. tree →
• The soldier lay prone in the grass. tree →
• Lie prone on the mat with your arms stretched out. tree →
• Some dogs are prone to getting fat. tree →

Note

Followed by "to" + noun or verb: prone to colds, prone to forget. Compound adjectives with a hyphen: accident-prone, flood-prone. Prone = face down; supine = face up — a common mix-up.