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clowning

  • present participle
    of clown.
    clown
    noun
    a comic performer, as in a circus, theatrical production, or the like, who wears an outlandish costume and makeup and entertains by pantomiming common situations or actions in exaggerated or ridiculous fashion, by juggling or tumbling, etc.

Example Sentences

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The clowning might be a little too effortful.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026

Comedy and clowning are ways Zaalan has connected with their homeland after the Syrian revolution.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 1, 2026

Or maybe it was that the clowning that marked the career of Ron Luciano masked a deeper sadness that finally claimed the life of baseball’s happy warrior in a size-50 extralong dark blazer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026

But too much clowning around might not look so smart.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2025

As the jury members straggled in, they were not clowning around or tap-dancing on the stage as jurors usually did.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli