frolic
Americannoun
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merry play; merriment; gaiety; fun.
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a merrymaking or party.
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playful behavior or action; prank.
verb (used without object)
adjective
noun
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a light-hearted entertainment or occasion
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light-hearted activity; gaiety; merriment
verb
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have frolickedperfect
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has frolickedperfect 3rd person singular
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has been frolickingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is frolickingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are frolickingprogressive
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frolickingparticiple
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frolicssingular 3rd person
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am frolickingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been frolickingperfect progressive
Past
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had frolickedperfect
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was frolickingprogressive singular
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frolickedsimple
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had been frolickingperfect progressive
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frolickedparticiple
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were frolickingprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of frolic
1530–40; < Dutch vrolijk joyful (cognate with German fröhlich ), equivalent to vro glad + -lijk -ly
Explanation
A frolic is a light-hearted, fun, often silly activity. To frolic is to cavort, romp, or run around — to have fun. Ever see two puppies playing in the park, wrestling, chasing, and just having a ball with each other? You could say they're having a frolic or frolicking. When we frolic, we're having a fun time. Flying a kite, playing frisbee, skipping around, and having a picnic could be examples of frolics. If things are grim and serious, or you're in a bad mood, then it's tough to frolic. This is one of the happiest, most playful words in the dictionary.
Vocabulary lists containing frolic
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"Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A 2022 Times investigation detailed how Bloom ingratiated himself with regulars at the Frolic Room bar and residents of the Villa Carlotta apartment complex in Hollywood by projecting an aura of wealth and status.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
Employees are encouraged to gain mastery over what Kier Eagan describes as the Four Tempers: Woe, Frolic, Dread and Malice.
From Salon • Feb. 15, 2025
So the Frolic kicked off the first week of September.
From Washington Post • Dec. 16, 2021
The house became a social center for the local gay community, and Mr. Mendillo’s annual Winter Frolic parties attracted quirky characters from the neighborhood and from other states, Mr. Camp said.
From New York Times • Jan. 19, 2021
“And the puppy? How’s Frolic? Could you see him?”
From "Messenger" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
