frolic

American  

[frol-ik] / ˈfrɒl ɪk /

noun

1. merry play; merriment; gaiety; fun.

2. a merrymaking or party.

3. playful behavior or action; prank.

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verb (used without object)

frolicked, frolicking

1. to gambol merrily; to play in a frisky, light-spirited manner; romp.

   The children were frolicking in the snow.

   Synonyms:

   revel, sport

2. to have fun; engage in merrymaking; play merry pranks.

adjective

1. merry; full of fun.

frolic British  

/ ˈfrɒlɪk /

noun

1. a light-hearted entertainment or occasion

2. light-hearted activity; gaiety; merriment

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verb

1. (intr) to caper about; act or behave playfully

adjective

1. archaic full of merriment or fun

Other Word Forms

• frolicker noun

Etymology

Origin of frolic

1530–40; < Dutch vrolijk joyful (cognate with German fröhlich ), equivalent to vro glad + -lijk -ly

Example Sentences

This was not the barefoot frolic I knew from picnics, not the game of lazy parabolas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

The bonus is the space: PlayLab’s indoor play space is designed for young children to frolic and, in this case, witness dads build their emotional muscles.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2025

There, the boys frolic and dream amid cinder block walls.

From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2024

With this multitude of bright blossoms and fragrant flowers surrounding me, I can almost forget my drippy sinuses and frolic in appreciation of the season.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2024

Sensible that I should speak and join the frolic, I opined that I should like to hear their especial call, having never heard human imitate that animal’s cry.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• cavort
• gambol