acrobat

noun ac·ro·bat \ ˈa-krə-ˌbat \

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of acrobat

1 : one that performs gymnastic feats requiring skillful control of the body

2 a : one skillful at exercises of intellectual or artistic dexterity

b : one adept at swiftly changing or adapting a position or viewpoint

a political acrobat

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acrobatic

play \ˌa-krə-ˈba-tik\ adjective

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acrobatically

play \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See acrobat defined for English-language learners

See acrobat defined for kids

Examples of acrobat in a Sentence

a child who is a natural acrobat with a superb sense of balance
a political acrobat whose opinion on any issue is whatever will get the most votes

Recent Examples of acrobat from the Web

The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.

— luann gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "Cirque returns to Cincy this week," 2 May 2018
His fastball, meanwhile, sits at 98 mph and routinely touches 100, and his split-finger fastball tumbles out of the strike zone like a drunken acrobat.

— jon tayler, SI.com, "Forget the Sample Size, Shohei Ohtani Already Looks Like One of Baseball's Best Players," 8 Apr. 2018
Also on display: dancers and acrobats tracked by Intel's RealSense 3D cameras, which will compute their movements into a Vegas-worthy visual arts performance.

— mike snider, USA TODAY, "Intel CEO Brian Krzanich's embrace of the future snagged by flaws of past," 7 Jan. 2018
In October 2013, veteran acrobat Sarah Guyard-Guillot fell 94 feet to her death during the conclusion of a performance, which marked the first onstage fatality in Cirque du Soleil's history.

— christopher carbone, Fox News, "Cirque du Soleil aerialist plunges to his death during Tampa performance," 19 Mar. 2018
The Fern Street Circus will offer artistic performances as the professional performing troupe presents aerialists, musicians, jugglers, acrobats and other performers.

— lisa deaderick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Top weekend events: Whale watching, San Diego Ballet, Harlem Globetrotters," 16 Feb. 2018
As if simply viewing the museum’s world-renowned collection of Chinese art weren’t enough, visitors also will be able to experience activities ranging from music, dancing and acrobats to painting, calligraphy and shadow puppetry.

— dan kelly, kansascity, "KC events Jan. 25-31: Royals FanFest, Chinese New Year, ‘Wizard of Oz,’ Terry Brooks | The Kansas City Star," 23 Jan. 2018
The production — imagine Fellini with acrobats, and a significantly lighter touch and little discernible dialogue — is also, on paper, an arena spectacle.

— piet levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Review: Cirque du Soleil's 'Corteo' soars at BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee," 30 Mar. 2018
Hammerstein’s lyrics are a portrait gallery of people who typically are not verbal acrobats; for them, any show-off rhyming risks sounding artificial and disingenuous.

— brad leithauser, WSJ, "‘Something Wonderful’ Review: The Winning Marquee," 29 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'acrobat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of acrobat

borrowed from French acrobates, acrobate, borrowed from Middle Greek akrobátēs "tightrope walker," agent derivative of Greek akróbatos "walking on tiptoe," from akro- acro- + -batos, verbal adjective from baínein "to walk, go" — more at ¹come

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1827

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

acrobat Synonyms

Synonyms

gymnast;

Related Words

exerciser, tumbler;

contortionist, equilibrist;

aerialist, ropedancer, ropewalker, trampoliner, trampolinist, trapeze artist, trapezist;

Other Gymnastics Terms

aerial, pike

ACROBAT Defined for English Language Learners

acrobat

noun

Definition of acrobat for English Language Learners

: someone who entertains people (as at a circus) by performing difficult and often dangerous acts (such as swinging from a bar or walking on a rope high in the air)