romp

play

noun \ ˈrämp , ˈrȯmp \

Definition of romp

1 :one that romps; especially :a romping girl or woman

2 a :high-spirited, carefree, and boisterous play

b :something suggestive of such play: such as

(1) :a light fast-paced narrative, dramatic, or musical work usually in a comic mood

(2) :an episode of lovemaking

3 :an easy winning pace; also :runaway 3

See romp defined for English-language learners

See romp defined for kids

Examples of romp in a Sentence

The dogs love a good romp through the woods.
The game turned into a romp in the second half.
His latest film is a wildly amusing romp.

Recent Examples of romp from the Web

Seven weeks since his romp in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs, Gun Runner will return to action Saturday in New York.

— jason frakes, The Courier-Journal, "Gun Runner back for Grade I Whitney Stakes," 4 Aug. 2017
Including more foreplay in your bedroom romps can also help to increase your own natural lubricant—and who doesn’t enjoy a little extra foreplay every now and then?

— emily morse, Glamour, "Help! Why Does Having Sex Hurt So Much?," 30 July 2017
Although rats and cats have adversarial relationships outside the terrarium – inside the kittens are the perfect size to have supervised romp and play sessions with the rats.

— saryn chorney, PEOPLE.com, "WATCH: Rats Are Employed as Loving Nannies for Orphan Kittens at New York Cat Cafe," 17 July 2017
That way, no matter the weather, the kids can burn some energy with a romp in the water.

— kristen jordan shamus, Detroit Free Press, "Have kids, will travel. Why you should take your children with you on vacation," 16 July 2017
Filming on location in Tuscany, cinematographer Quyen Tran lends a steady glow and a pretty sheen to the images, though the camera's dreamy slow zooms recall an average Italian soft-core romp of the '70s.

— michael phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'The Little Hours' review: 14th century sex comedy finds nuns on the run, in pursuit of a Franco," 12 July 2017
Sexual romps are as commonplace as first-class business trips to New Orleans and the Caribbean.

— tanisha c. ford, The Root, "Boomerang at 25 Isn’t Just a ’90s Eddie Murphy Flick, It’s a World We Want to Live In," 5 July 2017
A blond-haired, blue-eyed, cartoonish young male in the style of Mr. Monopoly (nee Rich Uncle Pennybags), Vault Boy emblematizes character stats, chance actions and otherwise dull math in Bethesda's post-apocalyptic roleplaying romps.

— SI.com, "The 15 Most Influential Video Game Characters of All Time," 4 July 2017
A blond-haired, blue-eyed, cartoonish young male in the style of Mr. Monopoly (nee Rich Uncle Pennybags), Vault Boy emblematizes character stats, chance actions and otherwise dull math in Bethesda's post-apocalyptic roleplaying romps.

— lisa eadicicco, Time, "The 15 Most Influential Video Game Characters," 30 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of romp

partly alteration of ²ramp; partly alteration of ramp bold woman

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1671

See Words from the same year

romp Synonyms

Synonyms

binge, frisk, frolic, gambol, idyll (also idyl), lark, ploy, revel, rollick, fling, spree

Related Words

caper, escapade, prank; bender, brannigan, bum, bust, carouse, souse, splore [Scottish], toot; antic, monkeyshine (s), shenanigan (s); field day; festivity, merriment, merrymaking; enjoyment, indulgence, pleasure, self-indulgence; amusement, diversion, entertainment, recreation

romp

verb

Definition of romp

intransitive verb

1 :to run or play in a lively, carefree, or boisterous manner

2 :to move or proceed in a brisk, easy, or playful manner

3 :to win a contest easily

See romp defined for English-language learners

Examples of romp in a Sentence

The kids were romping in the yard.
the kids romped on the lawn until dinner was ready

Recent Examples of romp from the Web

Lively and DiCaprio romped it up around Europe in 2011 and dated for a few months.

— ale russian, PEOPLE.com, "Blake Lively Had an Unexpected Way of Communicating with Leonardo DiCaprio When They Were Dating," 30 Aug. 2017
Angela Merkel is going to romp to reelection this fall.

— michael brendan dougherty, National Review, "The Great Conservative Rethink Isn’t Going Away," 31 July 2017
His Golden State Warriors romped through the playoffs and emphatically defeated the Cavaliers to win their second championship in three years.

— daniel rapaport, SI.com, "Draymond Green Puts Damian Lillard in His Place," 21 July 2017
Romping through the ultra-idyllic forest, Mija and Okja are inseparable.

— annalee newitz, Ars Technica, "New Netflix film Okja is sci-fi satire so sharp it will cut you," 9 July 2017
But the Glads kept rolling in the fourth quarter, after Brandon Stephens intercepted Storm QB Randy Hippeard in the end zone and Preston romped untouched into the opposite end with a 30-yard TD reception.

— plain dealer sports, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Gladiators surge over Tampa Bay Storm, 41-39," 8 July 2017
Visitors safari through this free-roaming wildlife preserve, where animals romp right up to your vehicle for a treat or two or three.

— NOLA.com, "Top 10 summer staycation activities on the North Shore," 7 July 2017
The 34-year-old Müller, seeded fourth, used all his experience against an opponent 14 years younger in romping through the second set.

— the associated press, New York Times, "Reds Honor Pete Rose With Statue Outside Their Stadium," 18 June 2017
Grownups blew bubbles, while their children romped.

— Washington Post, "AP WAS THERE: San Francisco’s groovy, gritty Summer of Love," 13 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of romp

alteration of ¹ramp

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1662

See Words from the same year

romp Synonyms

Synonyms

caper, cavort, disport, frisk, gambol, lark, rollick, frolic, sport

Related Words

bound, hop, leap, lope, skip, spring, trip, tumble; curvet, dance, prance; carouse, revel, roister; carry on, fool around, horse around; clown, cut up; joyride, roughhouse, skylark; kite

Near Antonyms

mope, pout, stew, sulk

ROMP Defined for English Language Learners

romp

play

noun

Definition of romp for English Language Learners

: an enjoyable time of rough and noisy play
: an easy victory
: an enjoyable and lively movie, book, play, etc.

romp

verb

Definition of romp for English Language Learners

: to play in a rough and noisy way
: to easily win a race, contest, etc.
: to move, go, or proceed in a quick, easy, or playful way

ROMP Defined for Kids

romp

play

verb \ ˈrämp \

Definition of romp for Students

romped; romping

:to play in a rough and noisy way

romp

noun

Definition of romp for Students

:rough and noisy play :frolic

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See words that rhyme with romp Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for romp Spanish Central: Translation of romp Nglish: Translation of romp for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of romp for Arabic speakers

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