acrobat

noun ac·ro·bat \ ˈa-krə-ˌbat \

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Examples: acrobat in a Sentence

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

—

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

IllumiNight: This new nighttime interactive show gets audiences to move to the electrifying pulse of the music while high-flying acrobats, floating sea life and a tribe of dancers perform at this high-energy dance party.

— carolina gusman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Gymnastics coach choreographs water dances for new SeaWorld show," 5 July 2018
Sure, you’ll be impressed and sometimes dazzled by the agility and dexterity of Cirque’s international cast of acrobats and aerialists, by the movement of bodies through space at impossible speeds and angles that adds up to a kind of airborne dance.

— don aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, "A Cirque du Soleil show that’s as interested in ‘Ahh’ as ‘Wow’," 29 June 2018
Travel back in time to the days of clowns, jugglers, carnies and acrobats with the Great Benjamin Circus.

— yoshina okamoto, Anchorage Daily News, "Coming up: Juneteenth, a traveling circus and Cut/Copy," 14 June 2018
The Flying Nesbits were a group of acrobats headed by Russell Nesbit , a Cardozo High graduate who in 1959 walked down the stairs of the Washington Monument on his hands.

— john kelly, Washington Post, "Answer Man goes for a spin at Vista Raceway, a motorcycle track in Maryland," 2 June 2018
Arnaud was one of a group of acrobats performing a straps number Saturday night.

— cleve r. wootson jr., chicagotribune.com, "Tampa acrobat was attempting new Cirque du Soleil act. A horrific fall killed him.," 19 Mar. 2018
Cirque's new show, Paramour, opened May 25, giving the world's most famous theater audiences a chance to experience the pit-in-your-stomach thrills of watching the chic circus's acrobats fly through the air.

— lara sorokanich, Popular Mechanics, "How do Cirque du Soleil Performers Know They Won't Die?," 6 June 2016
The deep-browed acrobat and the ample jester resemble, respectively, colleagues André Salmon and Guillaume Apollinaire.

— e.a. carmean jr. and ann hoenigswald, WSJ, "Picasso’s Hidden Figures," 1 June 2018
Shop the pop-up artist colony for handmade wares and unique goods; refuel in the food village, race bumper cars, watch acrobats, join a parade.

— lauren daley, BostonGlobe.com, "Summer music fests worth the drive," 30 May 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)