frolic
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /frˈɒlɪk/
US
- /ˈfrɑlɪk/
Description
- play joyfully
- romp
- skip about
- enjoy oneself
Imagine a field of wildflowers, sunshine on your face, and the urge to skip, jump, and spin around. That is the feeling behind frolic. It means to play or move about in a happy, carefree way. Lambs do it in meadows, children do it on the beach, and dogs do it in the park. People can do it too, especially when they feel excited and free. The word brings to mind open spaces, laughter, and playful energy.
To frolic means to play, run, jump, or move around in a happy and carefree way. It usually suggests lively movement, fun, and a feeling of freedom rather than quiet or organized play. Think of lambs leaping in a spring meadow, children splashing in the waves, or puppies chasing each other across the grass. These are classic scenes that match the word well.
The word carries a strong sense of joy and light movement. While you can play a game with rules, frolic is less structured. It is more about enjoying the moment and moving around with playful excitement. The word is often used for animals and children, but adults can be described this way too, especially in cheerful, playful moments.
It can also suggest a mood of carefree celebration, and in older uses it could be linked with merry play or lively dancing. You would not normally use frolic for serious, formal, or goal-focused activity. It belongs to moments of simple fun. If you see someone skipping down the street with a big smile, or a group of dogs racing around just for the joy of it, frolic is a natural word to use.
In short, frolic is a warm, vivid word for happy, playful movement. It captures the feeling of letting go, enjoying the moment, and moving with pure delight.
Examples
- 1
Children
The children spent the afternoon frolicking in the waves.
Usage
frolic is a playful word, often used for children or animals
- 2
Dolphins
We stopped the boat to watch dolphins frolic near the shore.
- 3
Puppies
I could hear the puppies frolicking around in the yard while I made dinner.
- 4
Travel ad
The travel ad showed a couple frolicking on a quiet beach at sunrise.
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- frolicnounverb
Forms
- frolicking-ing formverbnoun
- frolicspluralnounverb
- frolickedpast tensepast participleverbnoun