gambol 1 of 2

noun

Definition of gambolnext
as in spree
a time or instance of carefree fun she and her old college roommate headed off for one final European gambol before returning to the States to start their separate careers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

gambol

2 of 2

verb

ˈgam-bəl How to pronounce gambol (audio)
as in to cavort
to play and run about happily dog owners chat while their pooches gambol on the park's great lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of gambol
Noun
In my backyard, rabbits gambol, squirrels leap and the birds sing with a new exuberance now that there’s no traffic noise from the nearby highway. — Claire Messud, WSJ, 30 Apr. 2020 Designed by Amanda Villalobos, the prehistoric arthropods in this show gambol about with googly eyes and flicking antennas and tails. — Laurel Graeber, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2020
Verb
The dire wolves known to paleontologists, however, are different from the creatures that can now be viewed in Colossal videos gamboling in an open field. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025 The Paiva children, including Vera (played as a young woman by Valentina Herszage) and Marcelo (played as a boy by Guilherme Silveira), are gamboling on a sunny beach, playing volleyball, and chasing a stray puppy. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gambol
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gambol
  1. spree
  2. cavort
  3. romp
  4. dance
  5. revel
  6. frolic
  7. lark
  8. hop
Noun
  • What might inspire someone who just graduated from probation to go on such an unfettered killing spree?
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
  • Importantly, the government said the move would be paid for by canceling plans to introduce digital ID, in an effort to reassure investors that Burnham isn’t about to go on an unfunded spending spree.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Definition of spree
Verb
  • Actors depicting a who’s who of artists, like Picasso and Warhol, cavort around the stage.
    — Daniella Walsh, Oc Register, 25 July 2026
  • While memi may sound cute as a faux-sector name, the memory chip companies are having a real impact across the public equities market, linking parts of the market that don’t typically cavort together.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 22 July 2026
Definition of cavort
Noun
  • But Konchalovsky’s rendering of the heroic tale — must-watch programming for lovers of Greek mythology, ‘90s aesthetics, and a good cinematic romp — certainly hasn’t lost its appeal.
    — Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
  • Andrés Chaparro went 4 for 5 with two home runs and eight RBIs as the Washington Nationals handed the Athletics their 10th straight defeat in a 23-4 romp Friday night.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
Definition of romp
Verb
  • Part of the project staying personal meant that de Araújo wanted Claire to dance, as the character was based on her own mother who was a dancer.
    — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 24 July 2026
  • Willis grew up as a dancer, excelling in ballet, contemporary, jazz and hip-hop, and dancing competitively at a private studio and throughout high school.
    — Gustavo Turner, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
Definition of dance
Noun
  • In the summer, the monsoon rains fatten the grass into a verdant shag, an annual revel for grazers.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The historic Paulaner brewery hosts three weeks of rowdy revels, kicking off on March 6.
    — Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 12 Jan. 2026
Definition of revel
Verb
  • This is a world of movers and shakers, and the plots have a frolicking quality that feels complementary to the Bob & Earl song that inspired the title of the first book, Harlem Shuffle.
    — Niela Orr, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Kaia Gerber and Hailey Bieber have frolicked NYC’s streets in Repetto’s slim ballet flats and pumps.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 17 July 2026
Definition of frolic
Noun
  • Feeling slightly out of place amid this crowd is Annie, here on a lark to appease her sister.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 19 June 2026
  • That includes a bird-calling scene that sees the duo strolling through the forest and offering up their own spin on the calls of thrushes and larks.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 June 2026
Definition of lark
Verb
  • Acuña swung and missed and hopped on his left leg before walking tenderly back to the dugout.
    — Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 24 July 2026
  • Eventually and from a respectful distance, Ayres hopped in the water to get a better look at the whales.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 23 July 2026
Definition of hop

Browse Nearby Words

gambling (with)
gambol
gamboled
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Gambol.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gambol. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on gambol

Nglish: Translation of gambol for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of comely

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All