somersault

noun

som·​er·​sault ˈsə-mər-ˌsȯlt How to pronounce somersault (audio)
variants or less commonly
: a movement (as in gymnastics) in which a person turns forward or backward in a complete revolution along the ground or in the air bringing the feet over the head
also : a falling or tumbling head over heels
somersault intransitive verb

Examples of somersault in a Sentence

The gymnast turned a somersault.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Vásquez took just nine pitches to get through the first inning and 14 pitches — plus a throw home and a somersault – to get through the second. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2025 On his way to third base, last year's National League Rookie of the Year partially collided with Nuñez and tumbled to the ground, coming to a halt after a backwards somersault. Sam Gillette, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025 The video splices clips of Gaga’s dancers doing backflips and somersaults while surrounding Gaga, before a cane choreography late in the song. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025 And in asking the question, would anyone seriously question a non-U.S. corporation for doing somersaults to enter the U.S. market? John Tamny, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for somersault

Word History

Etymology

Middle French sombresaut leap, ultimately from Latin super over + saltus leap, from salire to jump — more at over, sally

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of somersault was circa 1530

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Somersault.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/somersault. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

somersault

1 of 2 noun
som·​er·​sault
ˈsəm-ər-ˌsȯlt
: a leap or roll in which a person turns heels over head

somersault

2 of 2 verb
: to perform a somersault
Etymology

from early French sombresaut "somersault," derived from Latin super "over" and saltus "leap," from salire "to jump" — related to resilient

More from Merriam-Webster on somersault

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