pride
pride — noun
1. a warm feeling of satisfaction that comes from achieving something worthwhile or
a warm feeling of satisfaction that comes from achieving something worthwhile or belonging to a group that has done well.
Henry felt a deep sense of pride when the university awarded him his degree.
sense of pride (common collocation)
The dance troupe took great pride in their performance at the national competition.
take pride in + achievement
Winning the gold medal filled the young swimmer with overwhelming pride.
Darius looked at the bookshelf he had built and smiled with quiet pride.
The company's reputation for quality is a matter of great pride for its employees.
- satisfaction
broader term that includes simple contentment, not just achievement-based pleasure
- fulfillment
deeper, more lasting sense of purpose rather than the immediate emotional high
- joy
stronger, purer emotion that does not require a personal achievement to feel
- shame
the painful feeling of having done something wrong or embarrassing
文法句型
pride in + noun/gerund
take pride in + noun/gerund
sense of pride
with pride
用法筆記
Uncountable — you cannot say 'a pride' for this sense. The most common pattern is 'take pride in [something]' or 'feel pride in [something]'. Often paired with adjectives like deep, great, immense, or quiet.
常見錯誤
2. the pleased feeling you get when someone close to you, such as your child, frien
the pleased feeling you get when someone close to you, such as your child, friend, or student, achieves something good or behaves well.
Trang's parents felt enormous pride when she became the first doctor in their family.
enormous pride (strength modifier)
Ilan watched his younger brother score the winning goal with a broad smile full of pride.
The whole village took pride in the young musician whose songs were played on national radio.
Shirin's pride in her students was clear from the way she described their progress.
- delight
a stronger, more immediate feeling of joy at someone's success
- admiration
respect for someone's qualities or actions, not necessarily tied to a personal connection
- disappointment
the sadness you feel when someone does not meet your hopes or expectations
文法句型
take pride in + noun/pronoun
someone's pride in + noun
用法筆記
The object of pride here is a person connected to you, not your own achievement. Distinguish from sense 1 (SATISFACTION), where the achievement is your own or your group's. The pattern 'take pride in [someone]' is very common for this sense. Frequently used with 'parental pride' or 'family pride'.
3. the inner conviction that you are a person of value, which shapes how you behave
the inner conviction that you are a person of value, which shapes how you behave and what treatment you consider acceptable from others.
Jiwoo swallowed her pride and apologised to her colleague for the misunderstanding.
swallow one's pride (idiomatic pattern)
Even after losing his job, Caleb refused to beg — his pride would not let him.
The old carpenter's pride was hurt when his son criticised the quality of his work.
Vivek had too much pride to ask his former classmates for financial help.
- self-esteem
how much you value yourself overall; more psychological than pride
- dignity
the quality of being worthy of respect; focuses on behaviour and composure
- self-respect
virtually interchangeable with this sense of pride
- self-doubt
lack of confidence in your own worth or abilities
- humility
modesty; the opposite of insisting on your own importance
文法句型
too much pride to + verb
swallow your pride
hurt/wound someone's pride
用法筆記
This sense is about personal dignity and standards, not about achievement. It typically appears in contexts where someone refuses to lower themselves or behaves according to a personal code. Common in phrases like 'swallow your pride' (force yourself to accept something humiliating) and 'wounded/hurt pride'. Distinguish from sense 1 (SATISFACTION), which is about feeling good from success, and sense 4 (CONCEIT), which is excessive self-regard.
常見錯誤
4. an excessively high opinion of your own importance, abilities, or achievements,
an excessively high opinion of your own importance, abilities, or achievements, often shown by looking down on others or refusing to admit mistakes.
Blinded by pride, the director ignored every warning and drove the company toward disaster.
blinded by pride (figurative pattern)
Her pride made her talk endlessly about her own achievements without ever asking about anyone else.
The old saying 'pride comes before a fall' warns that arrogance often leads to failure.
In medieval Christian teachings, pride was considered the most serious of the seven deadly sins.
文法句型
blinded by pride
pride comes/goes before a fall
用法筆記
This sense always carries a negative judgement — it describes a flaw, not a virtue. Distinguish from sense 3 (SELF-RESPECT), which is positive or neutral. 'Pride' in religious contexts (the seven deadly sins) always refers to this sense. The proverb 'pride comes/goes before a fall' (from the Bible) is associated with this meaning.
常見錯誤
5. a social group of lions that live, hunt, and raise their young together in the w
a social group of lions that live, hunt, and raise their young together in the wild.
A pride of lions rested in the shade of a large acacia tree after their morning hunt.
a pride of + animal (collective noun pattern)
The documentary followed a pride of fourteen lions across the African savanna for an entire year.
Tourists watched a pride of lions drinking at the river just before sunset.
The lioness led her pride on a hunt through the tall grass while the cubs waited behind.
文法句型
a pride of + plural noun
用法筆記
This is a collective noun — countable and can take a plural form ('prides'). It is specific to lions; other group terms are used for different animals (e.g. 'herd' for elephants, 'pack' for wolves). A lion pride typically consists of related females, their cubs, and a few adult males.
常見錯誤
6. a celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, rights, and culture, typically involving parad
a celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, rights, and culture, typically involving parades, festivals, and public events that affirm visibility and equality.
Millions of people lined the streets for the Taipei Pride parade last October.
Pride parade (event collocation)
The city held a full week of Pride events including concerts, film screenings, and community talks.
Wearing rainbow colours during Pride month is a common way to show support for equal rights.
Sofie marched in her first Pride parade with a rainbow flag painted on her cheek.
- celebration
a general term that does not specifically refer to LGBTQ+ culture
- festival
a public event with performances and activities, not necessarily with a political message
文法句型
Pride + noun
Pride month/parade/event
用法筆記
Often capitalised ('Pride') when referring to the specific cultural event or movement. The term emerged from the gay rights movement of the late 1960s, notably the Stonewall riots of 1969. In Taiwan, Taipei Pride is one of the largest Pride events in Asia, typically held in October.
常見錯誤
7. something or someone you greatly admire and are happy to be associated with beca
something or someone you greatly admire and are happy to be associated with because they represent the very best of what you value.
The new public library was the pride of the small town, with its beautiful reading room.
the pride of + place/community
Her rose garden was her pride and joy — she spent hours caring for it every weekend.
pride and joy (fixed expression)
The restored opera house became the pride of the city's cultural community.
Rania's handmade dumplings were the pride of the family restaurant and attracted customers from far away.
- embarrassment
a person or thing that causes shame or discomfort rather than pride
文法句型
the pride of + noun
someone's pride and joy
用法筆記
This sense is always used in the pattern 'the pride of [something]' — the thing that is the pride of a group is the most admired or valued member or feature of that group. The fixed expression 'pride and joy' refers to a person or thing that someone is especially proud of and happy about. Distinguish from sense 1 (SATISFACTION), which is the feeling itself rather than the object that causes it.
pride — verb
1. to feel proud about a particular skill, quality, or achievement of yours, often
to feel proud about a particular skill, quality, or achievement of yours, often because it is something you work hard at or consider important to your identity.
The office manager prides herself on arriving at least fifteen minutes early for every meeting.
pride oneself on + gerund
The chef prides himself on using only fresh, locally grown ingredients in his kitchen.
Chidi prides himself on his ability to fix almost anything around the house.
Lucía prides herself on staying calm and organised even in stressful emergency situations.
- boast about
to talk too proudly about your achievements; has a more negative, show-off tone
- take pride in
a phrasal equivalent using the noun form; slightly less emphatic than 'pride oneself on'
文法句型
pride oneself on + noun/gerund
pride oneself upon + noun/gerund
用法筆記
This verb is always reflexive — you must use 'pride + myself/yourself/himself/herself/etc. + on/upon'. It is never used in other patterns (you cannot say 'I pride my work'). The alternative 'upon' instead of 'on' sounds formal or old-fashioned. The closest non-reflexive equivalent is 'be proud of'.