gallivant

verb gal·li·vant \ ˈga-lə-ˌvant \

variants: or less commonly galavant

|Updated on: 22 Jul 2018

Examples: gallivant in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of gallivant

gallivanted also galavanted; gallivanting also galavanting; gallivants also galavants

intransitive verb

1 informal : to travel, roam, or move about for pleasure

been gallivanting all over town

2 dated, informal : to go about usually ostentatiously or indiscreetly with members of the opposite sex

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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

England was not among the top 10 nations in ticket sales before the tournament, but the team's progress caused gallivanting supporters to flock to Moscow.

— ronald blum, The Christian Science Monitor, "Croatia will make its first-ever appearance in World Cup final," 12 July 2018
The video sees both Galantis and Uffie gallivanting around Tokyo after the friendly trio meets up in a crowded sidewalk.

— kat bein, Billboard, "Galantis Takes Uffie To New Places With 'Spaceship': Watch," 18 May 2018
Kane collected 81% of the 22,930 votes, with the gallivanting Kieran Trippier behind him in second place with just 8%.

— SI.com, "Fans Vote England's Harry Kane as Man of the Moment After Treble in Spectacular Win Over Panama," 25 June 2018
Set in the Monica Pier, the campaign features an array of stunning shots of the women having fun on the beach, riding roller coasters, and gallivanting along the boardwalk.

— shammara lawrence, Teen Vogue, "All the Shit “Plus-Size” Models Are Tired of Hearing," 9 Apr. 2018
That’s exactly what the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said after one of its deputies was forced to wrangle a gallivanting bull recently.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "Texas Deputy “Grabs Bull By The Horns,” Escorts Gallivanting Longhorn Safely Home," 23 May 2018
Masha: Female, his sister, 50s, glamorous and successful actress who goes gallivanting around the world.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Enfield Edition," 15 May 2018
The corgis gallivanted in front of onlookers and enacted a wedding of their own, á la the upcoming nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19.

— raisa bruner, Time, "Corgis Dressed Up As a Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for a Royal Wedding of Their Own," 8 May 2018
Cole Sprouse and Lili Reinhart were recently in Paris for a French Riverdale convention, and while gallivanting around town, were photographed holding hands and kissing in a restaurant and on the street, Elle reports.

— emily wang, Teen Vogue, "Cole Sprouse and Lili Reinhart Were Spotted Kissing in Paris," 4 Apr. 2018

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.