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.

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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

The incomparable star is a vision in studded white or powder-blue jumpsuits—cavorting, emoting, karate-chopping and spreading the bat wings of his sewn-on cape in a move that never fails to thrill the audience.

From The Wall Street Journal

The official trailer for the sequel shows the chirpy red-capped Italian plumber cavorting with his friends and nemeses in a colourful intergalactic universe.

From Barron's

Lady Gaga is also teetering around on crutches, cavorting with zombies and crossing the River Styx.

From BBC

At the age of 80, he's still cavorting around the world, playing sold out shows, recording new music and even writing a book about his beloved model train set.

From BBC

And after a week of juggling personal, professional and financial responsibilities, sometimes cavorting with singing pirates and dancing dolls simply takes the edge off.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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