frolic

1 of 3

adjective

frol·​ic ˈfrä-lik How to pronounce frolic (audio)
: 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
I didn't choose the school so I could frolic in the quadHugh Gallagher
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

Did you know?

Frolic is a word rooted in pleasure. Its most common function today is as a verb meaning “to play and run 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.”

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
Pods of porpoises frolic, and a playful minke whale shimmers in the afternoon sun. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2024 Parent heaven: a place to hang out under shade trees while the little ones frolic. Sarah Shemkus, BostonGlobe.com, 21 June 2023
Verb
Today’s pretty hot again but the sun and blue skies mean every local is frolicking. R29 Team, refinery29.com, 19 July 2024 Whales, dolphins, sea lions and sea otters frolic in the waters around the park, while the islands provide a terrestrial habitat for super-rare flora and fauna species like the Torrey Pine and Island Fox. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2024
Noun
Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Savusavu, Fiji Immersed in lush tropical foliage and surrounded by unspoiled reefs where a spectacular assortment of colorful fish frolic, Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Fiji is a South Pacific paradise. Allison Tibaldi, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2024 In the coquette aesthetic, lace and crochet abound, ruffles and frills frolic throughout the home, mirrors and vintage prints dot the walls, and porcelain and ceramics rest on shelves. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for frolic 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frolic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of frolic was circa 1548

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Dictionary Entries Near frolic

Cite this Entry

“Frolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frolic. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on frolic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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