frolic

1 of 3

adjective

frol·​ic ˈfrä-lik 

: full of fun : merry

Contrasting the stern anxiety of his present mood with the frolic spirit of the preceding year …

—Nathaniel Hawthorne

frolic

2 of 3

verb

frolicked; frolicking

intransitive verb

1

: to amuse oneself : make merry

… wear funny hats, sing loudly … and frolic intensely.

—Michael T. Kaufman

2

: to play and run about happily : romp

children frolicking in the park

frolicker noun

frolic

3 of 3

noun

1

: a playful or mischievous action

2

a

: an occasion or scene of fun : party

b

: fun, merriment

Did you know?

Frolic is a word rooted in pleasure. Its most common function today is as a verb meaning “to play and move about happily,” as in “children frolicking in the waves,” but it joined the language in the 16th century as an adjective carrying the meaning of its Dutch source vroolijk: “full of fun; merry.” Shakespeare’s Puck used it this way in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, saying “And we fairies … following darkness like a dream, now are frolic.” Verb use quickly followed, and by the early 17th century the word was also being used as a noun, as in “an evening of fun and frolic.”

Synonyms of frolic

Adjective

• joyful
• exuberant
• lively
• frolicsome
• bubbly
• effervescent
• buoyant
• vivacious
• bouncy

Verb

• cavort
• dance
• romp
• hop
• gambol
• leap
• skip
• rollick
• lark
• caper
• tumble
• sport
• revel

Noun

• prank
• adventure
• trick
• escapade

Examples of frolic in a Sentence

Adjective

the frolic atmosphere that envelops New Orleans during Mardi Gras

Verb

We watched the seals as they frolicked in the harbor.

children frolicking in the yard

Noun

We went out for a frolic in the sun.

an evening of fun and frolic

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Alongside her, child actors dance and frolic with shadow puppetry in the land of make-believe, where youths go on adventures and learn math, science and reading skills. —Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026

Go ahead, frolic outdoors, but be alert to the seasonal hazards! —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 26 June 2025

Verb

Chloe Bailey is pretty good at drinking water, frolicking on a beach, and minding her business. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 6 Jan. 2026

In a recap slide of photos from the holidays, Chamberlain gave a glimpse into her celebration, which showed Chamberlain frolicking through the snow in Rhinebeck, New York and enjoying the cozy warmth of a cabin alongside her friends. —Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026

Noun

But images of those youthful frolics amid chirping children quickly slips behind me, muted by my puffing, labored breaths and the blanket of snow. —Thomas Cangelosi, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026

The festive frolic at The Colony Animal Care Services looked fit for a four-legged king. —Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Verb, and Noun

Dutch vroolijk, from Middle Dutch vrolijc, from vro happy; akin to Old High German frō happy

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1548, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for frolic

• colic
• moloch
• pollack
• alcoholic
• anabolic
• apostolic
• catabolic
• cytosolic
• diabolic
• diastolic
• ethanolic
• hyperbolic

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Kids Definition

frolic

1 of 2 verb

ˈfräl-ik

frolicked; frolicking

: to play about happily : romp

frolicker noun

frolic

2 of 2 noun

frol·​ic

1

: a playful or mischievous action

2

: a good time : fun