gadabout

American  

[gad-uh-bout] / ˈgæd əˌbaʊt /

noun

1. a person who moves about restlessly or aimlessly, especially from one social activity to another.

2. a person who travels often or to many different places, especially for pleasure.

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gadabout British  

/ ˈɡædəˌbaʊt /

noun

1. informal a person who restlessly seeks amusement

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Etymology

Origin of gadabout

First recorded in 1810–20; noun use of verb phrase gad about

Explanation

A gadabout is someone who's constantly on the move, looking for the most fun social activity they can find. If there are four parties on Saturday night, a gadabout will make it to all of them. Gadabouts are known for their restless tendency to wander from place to place, and for being pleasure seekers. It can be hard to take a gadabout seriously, since having fun is their highest priority. This noun first appeared in the 19th century, from an earlier phrase, gadder about, "walk around idly," and the now obsolete verb gad, "wander randomly and frivolously."

Example Sentences

Mr. Belmondo was inundated with offers and tried to avoid being typecast as the likable gadabout.

From Washington Post • Sep. 6, 2021

Schoeffer is a gadabout, and he led the young couple over jebel and oued—hill and stream—in Morocco’s rugged backcountry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Aug. 13, 2018

She was briefly married to the tennis pro Andre Agassi, who portrayed her in “Open,” his 2009 autobiography, as a socially ambitious gadabout to his off-the-courts homebody.

From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2018

The queen looks serious and demure - nothing like the gadabout many took her to be.

From BBC • Sep. 23, 2015

Gadfly, gad′flī, n. a fly which pierces the skin of cattle in order to deposit its eggs: a mischievous gadabout.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various