cavorting: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1slightly informal, descriptive, often humorous or slightly disapproving
Quick answer
What does “cavorting” mean?
to jump or move around in a playful, energetic, and often silly way.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to jump or move around in a playful, energetic, and often silly way
to engage in lively or uninhibited behavior, sometimes with connotations of frivolity or disregard for decorum
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. Slightly more common in British literary/journalistic contexts. No significant spelling or grammatical differences.
Connotations
In both varieties, can imply frivolous or irresponsible behavior, especially in adults. In AmE, might slightly more often describe animals or children at play.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but slightly more frequent in BrE written sources.
Grammar
How to Use “cavorting” in a Sentence
[Subject] cavort [adverbial of place][Subject] cavort with [companion][Subject] cavort [around/about] [location]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cavorting” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lambs were cavorting in the spring meadow.
- After the wedding, the guests cavorted on the dance floor until dawn.
American English
- The puppies cavorted around the backyard.
- Paparazzi photographed the celebrities cavorting on the beach.
adverb
British English
- [Note: 'cavorting' is not used as an adverb.]
American English
- [Note: 'cavorting' is not used as an adverb.]
adjective
British English
- [Note: 'cavorting' is a present participle, not a standard adjective. No examples.]
American English
- [Note: 'cavorting' is a present participle, not a standard adjective. No examples.]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Very rare. Only in metaphorical or humorous criticism (e.g., 'executives cavorting on corporate jets').
Academic
Rare. Might appear in literary analysis or historical descriptions of festivities.
Everyday
Used for describing playful children, animals, or adults behaving exuberantly/frivolously.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cavorting”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cavorting”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cavorting”
- Using it for simple 'running' or 'walking' (requires energetic, playful movement).
- Using it in overly formal contexts where its informal/judgmental tone is inappropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently negative, but it often carries a tone of mild disapproval or judgement when applied to adults, suggesting they are being frivolous or undignified. For animals and children, it is usually neutral or positive.
It's rare. 'Cavort' strongly implies physical movement in a space. It is most often followed by a prepositional phrase (e.g., in, on, around) indicating where the action takes place.
'Cavorting' is more chaotic, playful, and less structured than 'dancing'. Dancing follows rhythm and often specific steps; cavorting is exuberant, jumping, rolling, and leaping without a formal pattern.
It is more common in written English (journalism, literature) than in casual speech, but its register is still slightly informal or descriptive rather than highly formal or academic.
to jump or move around in a playful, energetic, and often silly way.
Cavorting: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈvɔː.tɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈvɔːr.t̬ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no common idioms with 'cavorting' as a fixed component]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CAValry horse (CAV-) jumping and playing (-ORTING) in a field instead of marching in formation.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLAYFUL BEHAVIOR IS UNRULY PHYSICAL MOVEMENT; LACK OF SERIOUSNESS IS BOUNCING/JUMPING.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'cavorting' be LEAST appropriate?