somersault
Americannoun
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an acrobatic movement, either forward or backward, in which the body rolls end over end, making a complete revolution.
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such a movement performed in the air as part of a dive, tumbling routine, etc.
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a complete overturn or reversal, as of opinion.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a forward roll in which the head is placed on the ground and the trunk and legs are turned over it
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a similar roll in a backward direction
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an acrobatic feat in which either of these rolls are performed in midair, as in diving or gymnastics
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a complete reversal of opinion, policy, etc
verb
Etymology
Origin of somersault
1520–30; < Middle French sombresaut, alteration of sobresault; compare Old Provençal sobre over (< Latin super ), saut a leap (< Latin saltus )
Explanation
A somersault is a gymnastic move in which you lower your head almost to the floor and roll forward so your feet flip over your head. Fancier somersaults are done in the air, rather than on the ground. There are many types of somersaults—forward, backward, and sideways, among other variations. In gymnastics, a somersault on the floor is more often called a roll. The word somersault, which works as a verb too, comes from the now-obsolete French sombresault, from the Latin roots supra, "over," and saut, "a jump."
Vocabulary lists containing somersault
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
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Summer of the Monkeys
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Unit 4, Week 5
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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.
Isack Hadjar crashed his Red Bull on his own at the final chicane and Pierre Gasly's Alpine was tipped into a somersault by Liam Lawson's Racing Bulls at the final corner.
From BBC • May 3, 2026
Word of California’s somersault over the fading Japan generated coverage in newspapers coast to coast, cable news and even as far afield as the BBC.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2025
They extended it on Verse’s fumble return — exuberantly punctuating the play with a somersault into the end zone — and Stafford’s touchdown pass to tight end Davis Allen for a 24-3 halftime lead.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2025
When circus-goers witness acts like a triple somersault on the trapeze or spinning in a human hamster wheel without a harness, they see a fleeting moment that is said to have divine impact.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2024
“They’re very good, how do you make them do all those tricks? I’ve never seen a cat do a somersault in midair,” Bailey says.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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.
