somersault: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to informal; technical in gymnastics/acrobatics
Quick answer
What does “somersault” mean?
an acrobatic movement in which a person tucks their head and rolls forward or backward, making a complete revolution of the body.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
an acrobatic movement in which a person tucks their head and rolls forward or backward, making a complete revolution of the body
any rapid, complete reversal of position, policy, or opinion, akin to the physical flip
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and primary term are identical. 'Somersault' is standard. In historical/regional UK contexts, 'summerset' is an archaic variant.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. The metaphorical use is equally common.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English in metaphorical political contexts (e.g., 'policy somersault').
Grammar
How to Use “somersault” in a Sentence
[Subject] does/turns/performs a somersault.[Subject] somersaults through the air/onto the mat.The government's policy did a complete somersault.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “somersault” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The gymnast somersaulted cleanly off the vault.
- My stomach somersaulted with nerves when I heard the news.
American English
- The cheerleader somersaulted across the field during the routine.
- The stock market somersaulted after the announcement.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used; usually periphrastic) He moved somersaultingly through the water. (Non-standard)
American English
- (Rarely used) The plane fell, tumbling almost somersault-like toward the ground. (Non-standard)
adjective
British English
- He attempted a somersault dismount from the high bar.
- The policy was a somersault reversal of their previous stance.
American English
- She executed a perfect somersault pass in her floor routine.
- The candidate's somersault maneuver on the issue confused voters.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except metaphorically: 'The company did a somersault on its pricing strategy after the backlash.'
Academic
Rare, mostly in sports science or physics describing rotational motion.
Everyday
Common for describing acrobatics, children playing, or sudden changes of mind.
Technical
Standard in gymnastics, diving, acrobatics, and circus arts with specific types (piked, tucked, layout somersault).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “somersault”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “somersault”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “somersault”
- Misspelling as 'sumersault' or 'somersalt'.
- Using it as a synonym for any jump (it requires a roll/rotation).
- Incorrect preposition: 'He did a somersault *on* the air' (correct: 'through the air' or 'in the air').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is far more commonly used as a noun ('do a somersault'). The verb form ('to somersault') is perfectly correct but less frequent in everyday speech.
A somersault involves rolling forward or backward with the body turning heels over head along the sagittal plane. A cartwheel is a sideways movement where the body moves through a handstand position with legs apart, turning along the frontal plane.
As a noun for the physical action, yes, in appropriate contexts (sports reports). Its metaphorical use is common in journalism and political commentary but can be considered slightly informal; 'reversal' or 'volte-face' might be preferred in very formal texts.
It comes from the Old French 'sombresault', which in turn came from the Provençal 'sobresaut', meaning a jump, from Latin 'supra' (over) + 'saltus' (a jump).
an acrobatic movement in which a person tucks their head and rolls forward or backward, making a complete revolution of the body.
Somersault: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌməsɔːlt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌmɚˌsɔlt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “do a 180 (informal, similar metaphorical sense)”
- “flip-flop (for opinions, less acrobatic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SUMMER' and 'SAULT' (like 'vault'). Imagine jumping and vaulting over yourself in the summer air.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE IS ROTATIONAL MOTION / A REVERSAL OF OPINION IS A PHYSICAL FLIP
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'somersault' MOST likely metaphorical?