Proud vs. Pride — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 19, 2023
"Proud" is an adjective describing a feeling of satisfaction derived from one's achievements or qualities. "Pride" is a noun that signifies the emotion or state of being proud. Both words are related but serve different grammatical functions.
Difference Between Proud and Pride
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
"Proud" is an adjective used to describe someone who feels a sense of satisfaction or accomplishment. "Pride," on the other hand, is a noun that captures the emotion or state of being that proud signifies.
"Proud" is often used to modify a noun, as in "proud parent" or "proud athlete." "Pride" serves as the subject or object in a sentence and can stand alone, as in "She took pride in her work."
While "proud" describes an attribute or feeling of an individual or entity, "pride" can also refer to a collective emotion. For instance, "national pride" refers to a shared feeling among people of a particular nation.
In terms of grammatical usage, "proud" is always an adjective, while "pride" is a noun. "Proud" can be used in comparative and superlative forms like "prouder" and "proudest," but "pride" does not have such variations.
Both "proud" and "pride" can have positive or negative connotations depending on the context. Being "proud" of one's achievements is generally viewed positively, but "pride" can also imply arrogance or an inflated sense of self-worth.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective
Noun
Grammatical Role
Modifies a noun
Serves as subject/object
Collective Usage
Rarely
Often
Comparative Forms
Prouder, Proudest
None
Connotations
Positive/Negative
Positive/Negative
Compare with Definitions
Proud
Proud describes a feeling of satisfaction from achievements.
She was proud of her academic accomplishments.
Pride
A cause or source of pleasure or satisfaction; the best of a group or class
These soldiers were their country's pride.
Proud
Proud signifies approval or admiration.
She is a proud supporter of equal rights.
Pride
Pride is the emotion of feeling pleased with oneself or one's actions.
She felt immense pride after finishing the marathon.
Proud
Proud can describe something that causes a feeling of pride.
That was a proud moment for the team.
Pride
Pride can signify a group with something in common.
A pride of lions roamed the savannah.
Proud
Proud indicates a sense of dignity or self-worth.
He was too proud to ask for help.
Pride
Pride can indicate an inflated sense of self-worth.
His pride was his downfall.
Proud
Proud can mean having an excessively high opinion of oneself.
His proud attitude made him unpopular.
Pride
Pride can mean satisfaction derived from affiliations or possessions.
His car was his pride and joy.
Proud
Feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements, qualities, or possessions or those of someone with whom one is closely associated
A proud grandma of three boys
She got nine passes and he was so proud of her
Pride
Pride is positive emotional response or attitude to something with an intimate connection to oneself, due to its perceived value. Oxford defines it amongst other things as "the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself or one's own importance" This may be related to one's own abilities or achievements, positive characteristics of friends or family, or one's country.
Proud
Having or showing a high or excessively high opinion of oneself or one's importance
He was a proud, arrogant man
Pride
A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect.
Proud
Slightly projecting from a surface
Balls standing proud of the fabric
Pride
Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement, possession, or association
Parental pride.
Proud
Feeling pleasurable satisfaction over an act, possession, quality, or relationship by which one measures one's stature or self-worth
Proud of one's child.
Proud to serve one's country.
Pride
Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness.
Proud
Occasioning or being a reason for pride
A proud moment when she received her diploma.
Pride
The most successful or thriving condition; prime
The pride of youth.
Proud
Feeling or showing justifiable self-respect
Too proud to beg.
Pride
An excessively high opinion of oneself; conceit.
Proud
Filled with or showing excessive self-esteem
A proud and haughty aristocrat.
Pride
Mettle or spirit in horses.
Proud
Of great dignity; honored
A proud name.
Pride
(Zoology) A group of lions, usually consisting of several related females and their offspring and a small number of unrelated adult males.
Proud
Majestic; magnificent
Proud alpine peaks.
Pride
A flamboyant or impressive group
A pride of acrobats.
Proud
Spirited. Used of an animal
Proud steeds.
Pride
To indulge (oneself) in a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction
I pride myself on this beautiful garden.
Proud
Feeling honoured (by something); feeling happy or satisfied about an event or fact; gratified.
I am proud of Sivu’s schoolwork.
Pride
The quality or state of being proud; an unreasonable overestimation of one's own superiority in terms of talents, looks, wealth, importance etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve and often contempt of others.
Proud
That makes one feel proud (of something one did)
That was not the proudest thing I did but I can’t deny it.
Pride
A sense of one's own worth, and scorn for what is beneath or unworthy of oneself; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; rejection of shame
He took pride in his work.
He had pride of ownership in his department.
Proud
Possessed of a due sense of what one deserves or is worth.
I was too proud to apologise.
Pride
Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation.
Proud
Having too high an opinion of oneself; arrogant, supercilious.
Pride
That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-congratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc.
Proud
Generating a sense of pride; being a cause for pride.
It was a proud day when we finally won the championship.
Pride
Show; ostentation; glory.
Proud
(Of things) standing upwards as in the manner of a proud person; stately or majestic.
Pride
Highest pitch; elevation reached; loftiness; prime; glory.
Proud
Standing out or raised; swollen.
After it had healed, the scar tissue stood proud of his flesh.
The weld was still a bit proud of the panel, so she ground it down flush.
Pride
Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness.
Proud
(obsolete) Brave, valiant; gallant.
Pride
A company of lions or other large felines.
A pride of lions often consists of a dominant male, his harem and their offspring, but young adult males 'leave home' to roam about as bachelors pride until able to seize/establish a family pride of their own.
Proud
Feeling or manifesting pride, in a good or bad sense
Nor much expectA foe so proud will first the weaker seek.
O death, made proud with pure and princely beauty !
And shades impervious to the proud world's glare.
Pride
(zoology) The small European lamprey species Petromyzon branchialis.
Proud
Having a feeling of high self-respect or self-esteem; exulting (in); elated; - often with of; as, proud of one's country.
Are we proud men proud of being proud ?
Pride
(reflexive) To take or experience pride in something; to be proud of it.
I pride myself on being a good judge of character.
Proud
Giving reason or occasion for pride or self-gratulation; worthy of admiration; grand; splendid; magnificent; admirable; ostentatious.
Till tower, and dome, and bridge-way proudAre mantled with a golden cloud.
Pride
A small European lamprey (Petromyzon branchialis); - called also prid, and sandpiper.
Proud
Feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride;
Proud parents
Proud of his accomplishments
A proud moment
Proud to serve his country
A proud name
Proud princes
Pride
The quality or state of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank, etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.
Those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt.
Proud
Having or displaying great dignity or nobility;
A gallant pageant
Lofty ships
Majestic cities
Proud alpine peaks
Pride
A sense of one's own worth, and abhorrence of what is beneath or unworthy of one; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; proud delight; - in a good sense.
Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride.
A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants.
Pride
Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation; disdain.
Let not the foot of pride come against me.
That hardly we escaped the pride of France.
Pride
That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-gratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc.
Lofty trees yclad with summer's pride.
I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
A bold peasantry, their country's pride.
Pride
Show; ostentation; glory.
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war.
Pride
Highest pitch; elevation reached; loftiness; prime; glory; as, to be in the pride of one's life.
A falcon, towering in her pride of place.
Pride
To indulge in pride, or self-esteem; to rate highly; to plume; - used reflexively.
Pluming and priding himself in all his services.
Pride
To be proud; to glory.
Pride
A feeling of self-respect and personal worth
Pride
Satisfaction with your (or another's) achievements;
He takes pride in his son's success
Pride
The trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below your standards
Pride
A group of lions
Pride
Unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem (personified as one of the deadly sins)
Pride
Be proud of;
He prides himself on making it into law school
Pride
Pride can refer to dignity or self-respect.
She had too much pride to beg.
Common Curiosities
Are proud and pride interchangeable?
No, "proud" is an adjective and "pride" is a noun.
Can pride be negative?
Yes, it can imply arrogance.
Can proud describe a group?
Rarely, it usually describes individuals.
What's the comparative form of proud?
Prouder.
Is pride always about oneself?
No, it can refer to collective emotions, like national pride.
How do you use pride in a sentence?
As a noun, e.g., "She has a lot of pride."
What part of speech is pride?
Noun.
Can pride stand alone in a sentence?
Yes, it can serve as a subject or object.
What part of speech is proud?
Adjective.
Does pride have a comparative form?
No, it's a noun.
Can proud stand alone in a sentence?
Usually not, it typically modifies a noun.
Can pride refer to a group of animals?
Yes, such as a pride of lions.
Can you be proud of someone else?
Yes, you can feel proud of another's achievements.
Is proud always positive?
No, it can have negative connotations like arrogance.
How do you use proud in a sentence?
As an adjective, e.g., "I am proud of you."
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Byte vs. Octet
Next Comparison
Patriarchal vs. EgalitarianAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
