cavorting

American  

[kuh-vawr-ting] / kəˈvɔr tɪŋ /

adjective

1. romping or capering playfully about; frolicking.

   Here you can see Arctic life up close—snowy owls, white foxes, cavorting polar bear cubs, and the amazing sled dogs.

2. behaving in a high-spirited, playful way.

   During a game of musical statues, the shy boy stood motionless in the middle of the cavorting group.

3. partying or behaving in an unrestrained way, often with the implication of sexual activity.

---

noun

1. the act of frolicking playfully about, behaving in a high-spirited or unrestrained way, or partying, often with the implication of sexual activity.

   Recent reports of drunken cavorting with a 19-year-old model have damaged the mayor’s squeaky-clean image.

Etymology

Origin of cavorting

First recorded in 1835–45; cavort ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; cavort ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun sense

Example Sentences

Cavorting with death is a common Western pastime, in the way I might go to brunch or a museum.

From New York Times • Sep. 26, 2017

Other Breeders’ Cup winners likely to take their categories are Beholder, winner of the Distaff, taking the older dirt female Eclipse over Cavorting and Stellar Wind; Drefong, winner of the Sprint, besting A.P.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2017

Cavorting in front of animated scenery, Elmo travels the world, conjuring playmates like an about-to-be married penguin in full bridal regalia or a villainous table-tennis-playing octopus.

From New York Times • Sep. 13, 2012

Cavorting and clowning on two custom-built circular stepladders that help equalize their heights, the two jolly up the Upstairs at the Duplex, a pair of gleeful grigs.

From Time Magazine Archive

Cavorting down the beach was Dot Kenway, flat upon her back, her legs and arms waving wildly.

From The Corner House Girls on Palm Island by Gooch, Thelma

Related Words

• boisterous
• jaunty
• joyful
• joyous
• lighthearted
• merry
• spirited
• sprightly