cavort

American  

[kuh-vawrt] / kəˈvɔrt /

verb (used without object)

1. to prance or caper about.

2. to behave in a high-spirited, festive manner; have a lively good time; revel.

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cavort British  

/ kəˈvɔːt /

verb

1. (intr) to prance; caper

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Other Word Forms

• cavorter
  noun

Etymology

Origin of cavort

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95; earlier cavault, perhaps cur(vet) ( def. ) + vault ² ( def. )

Explanation

How to cavort, in one easy step: dance around all crazy, jumping on and over anything nearby like you just ate a lot of sugar. Give it a try! Cavorting requires a good mood, lots of energy, and some running room. Children love to cavort, and so do parents when they win the lottery. The origins of the word are unclear, perhaps coming from the word curvet, meaning “leap gracefully or energetically,” and leaping is a great addition to any cavorting. There are lots of synonyms, so if you ever get tired of cavorting, you could always prance, frolic, lark, rollick, romp, or carouse. The choice is yours.

Related Words

• fool around
• gambol
• romp