frivol
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
-
(intr) to behave frivolously; trifle
-
to waste on frivolous pursuits
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of frivol
First recorded in 1865–70; back formation from frivolous
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.
See Examples For:
For his present visit, Gielgud apparently questioned the importance of being earnest: he would frivol first in Wilde's classic farce, later in Congreve's Restoration comedy, Love for Love.
From Time Magazine Archive
There were few awards in fields of frivol: Oscars, Tonys, Grammys didn't exist.
From Time Magazine Archive
He only signaled to another guard—this one taller and older—who said, “Step aside, please, or we’ll have to arrest you. This is not a place to frivol with.”
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
The young people had no part in the joys of the 1914 Class breakfast and "frivol" beyond laughing uproariously at the account of it which they received later from the elders who were there.
From Ethel Morton at Chautauqua by Mabell S. C. (Mabell Shippie Clarke) Smith
"I can't tell you that," Win answered in a changed tone, as if suddenly she were weary of trying to "frivol."
From Winnie Childs The Shop Girl by C. N. (Charles Norris) Williamson
Though, under the surface, life upon Blue Lake ranch was sufficiently tense, the remaining days of June frivoled by as bright and bonny as the little meadow-blues flirting with the field-flowers.
From Judith of Blue Lake Ranch by Jackson Gregory
She sneered at his ills, And quadrupled his bills, And spent nearly twice what he earned; Her husband deserted, And frivoled, and flirted, Till Ferdinand’s reason was turned.
From Grimm Tales Made Gay by Albert Levering
To him, life is a boon, a privilege, an investment, an opportunity, a responsibility, and, therefore, a gift too precious to be squandered or frivoled away.
From The Reconstructed School by Francis B. Pearson
To think that I, Geoffrey Fox, who have frittered and frivoled, should have put on paper things which have burned into men's consciousness and have made them better.
From Mistress Anne by F. Vaux (Francis Vaux) Wilson
But the other men made them first, you see, and I've just frivoled and played.
From Glory of Youth by Henry Hutt
Falstaff, still the boon companion of the errant, frivoling Prince Hal, swaggers and swills in rich midsummer plenty.
From Time Magazine Archive
Perhaps this was intended to stifle persistent rumors of a rift between General Weygand and the Vichy Government, for otherwise it did not seem like the week for Vichymen to go frivoling.
From Time Magazine Archive
Prue was the locust, frivoling away the summer.
From In a Little Town by Rupert Hughes
Just think what I might be had I been prepared for life like Malcolm or Oliver, instead of wasting all my years frivoling.
From The Fifth Wheel A Novel by Olive Higgins Prouty
Howsomever, he had a head that could do plain thinking, a pair of shoulders that discouraged frivoling, and he was as square a piece of furniture as ever came out of a factory.
From Red Saunders His Adventures West & East by Henry Wallace Phillips
"If I have frivolled enough, it's about time you said something."
From Out of the Primitive by Robert Ames Bennet
He felt it utterly unfair that she should sit alone by an empty hearth while he and Jean frivolled.
From The Tin Soldier by Temple Bailey
He asked her all about herself, where she lived, if she got up early, if she was busy, if she frivolled, and arrived at a mental summary of her circumstances.
From Married Life The True Romance by May Edginton
Yachting on the Mediterranean, or frivolling on the Riviera.
From A Safety Match by Ian Hay
All day long the happy pair enjoyed each other’s company aloft, leaping from corn-ear to thistle-head, from thistle-head to poppy, and back again to corn-ear, feasting, frivolling, stalking bluebottles.
From "Wee Tim'rous Beasties" Studies of Animal life and Character by Douglas English
Going, gadding, frivolling, flirting—that was the old Harvey.
From What's-His-Name by Harrison Fisher
She had a way of making the frivolling talk of the supper table appear a warrantable substitute for the things that Peter knew, even while he echoed her phrases, that he wasn't getting.
From The Lovely Lady by Gordon Grant
I suppose you think I have no right to be frivolling in these very serious times, but I am afraid I am rather an offender when the humour takes me.
From Nobody's Man by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim
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