gallivant

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verb gal·li·vant \ˈga-lə-ˌvant\

variants: or less commonly

galavant

Definition of gallivant

intransitive verb
1 : to go about usually ostentatiously or indiscreetly with members of the opposite sex
2 : to travel, roam, or move about for pleasure been gallivanting all over town

See gallivant defined for English-language learners

See gallivant defined for kids

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Examples of gallivant in a Sentence

They've been gallivanting all over town.
He's been gallivanting around the country when he ought to be looking for a job.

Recent Examples of gallivant from the Web

This story of bumbling boors, chiseling social climbers, and simpering fops gallivanting and scheming around the London countryside is crisply performed by a uniformly excellent cast.

— steve heisler, Chicago Reader, "Arts / Do This ‘Amy Krouse Rosenthal: A Beauty Salon’ at Carrie Secrist Gallery, Kyle Mooney at Thalia Hall, and more things to do this week in Chicago," 10 July 2017
Once finished gallivanting around Europe with his sister Felicity and best friend Percy, he is expected to join his father in managing the family estate and to marry a woman from the proper social class.

— christine heppermann, chicagotribune.com, "'The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue' is a romp, plus more Y.A. reviews," 26 June 2017
In happier times, people were free to gallivant around Trollpikken's picturesque prick, oftentimes posing directly on it.

— lilian min, Cosmopolitan, "Norway's Famous Penis Rock Has Been Vandalized, and the Jokes Write Themselves," 26 June 2017
This story of bumbling boors, chiseling social climbers, and simpering fops gallivanting and scheming around the London countryside is crisply performed by a uniformly excellent cast.

— Chicago Reader, "Bette Davis Ain’t for Sissies," 22 June 2017
Since then, he's been gallivanting around the country with Migos and Tory Lanez for Future's Nobody Safe Tour.

— carl lamarre, Billboard, "A$AP Ferg Talks Home Goods Collaboration With Fancy, 'Still Striving' Album & Tour With Future," 1 June 2017
This fictitious Sherrinford frees up both Mycroft and Sherlock to go gallivanting on adventures.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Will Tom Hiddleston Really Guest Star on Sherlock? An Exhaustive Investigation," 5 Jan. 2017
This fictitious Sherrinford frees up both Mycroft and Sherlock to go gallivanting on adventures.

— joanna robinson, VanityFair.com, "Will Tom Hiddleston Really Guest Star on Sherlock? An Exhaustive Investigation," 5 Jan. 2017
This fictitious Sherrinford frees up both Mycroft and Sherlock to go gallivanting on adventures.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "Sherlock: 11 Easter Eggs, Callbacks, and References You Might Have Missed in “The Six Thatchers”," 2 Jan. 2017

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

Did You Know?

Back in the 14th century, a young man of fashion (or a ladies' man) was called a gallant. By the late 1600s, gallant was being used as a verb to describe the process a paramour used to win a lady's heart; to gallant became a synonym of "to court." Etymologists think that the spelling of the verb gallant was altered to create gallivant, which originally meant "to act as a gallant" or "to go about usually ostentatiously or indiscreetly with members of the opposite sex." Nowadays, however, gallivant is more likely to describe wandering than romancing.

Origin and Etymology of gallivant

perhaps extended form of ³gallant

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1823

See Words from the same year

GALLIVANT Defined for English Language Learners

gallivant

play

verb

Definition of gallivant for English Language Learners

: to go or travel to many different places for pleasure

GALLIVANT Defined for Kids

gallivant

verb gal·li·vant \ˈga-lə-ˌvant\

Definition of gallivant for Students

gallivanted

;

gallivanting

: to travel from place to place doing things for pleasure “Abandoning … his four little children to go gallivanting off on wild adventures …” — Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time