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:
There were few awards in fields of frivol: Oscars, Tonys, Grammys didn't exist.
From Time Magazine Archive
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
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
Werner thought little of Haydn: he regarded him as an adventurer and musical frivol; but Haydn, as became the bigger man, esteemed Werner.
From Haydn by Runciman, John F.
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 Smith, Mabell S. C. (Mabell Shippie Clarke)
Where he had doubted, he was now convinced; where he had frivoled, he was in deep, intense earnest; the fact that there would be certain difficulties to overcome only seemed to strengthen the inward determination.
From Flaming June by Gilbert, A.
But the other men made them first, you see, and I've just frivoled and played.
From Glory of Youth by Hutt, Henry
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 Wilson, F. Vaux (Francis Vaux)
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 Levering, Albert
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 Gregory, Jackson
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
Only occasionally I look forward to the time when I shall be an angel frivoling in the eternal blue!
From The Lady of the Decoration by Little, Frances, [pseud.]
Prue was the locust, frivoling away the summer.
From In a Little Town by Hughes, Rupert
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 Prouty, Olive Higgins
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 Edginton, May
He felt it utterly unfair that she should sit alone by an empty hearth while he and Jean frivolled.
From The Tin Soldier by Bailey, Temple
"If I have frivolled enough, it's about time you said something."
From Out of the Primitive by Bennet, Robert Ames
Going, gadding, frivolling, flirting—that was the old Harvey.
From What's-His-Name by Fisher, Harrison
Yachting on the Mediterranean, or frivolling on the Riviera.
From A Safety Match by Hay, Ian
Their life was one long revel in the sunshine; for the harvest mouse has this distinction also, that, like a Christian, he loves the blue of the sky and sleeps at night. frivolling.
From "Wee Tim'rous Beasties" Studies of Animal life and Character by English, Douglas
“Stop frivolling, and let me get to my point!” commanded Raymonde.
From The Madcap of the School by Salmon, Balliol
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 English, Douglas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
