cavort

[ kuh-vawrt ]
See synonyms for cavort on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object)
  1. to prance or caper about.

  2. to behave in a high-spirited, festive manner; have a lively good time; revel.

Origin of cavort

1
An Americanism dating back to 1785–95; earlier cavault, perhaps cur(vet) + vault2

Other words from cavort

  • ca·vort·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use cavort in a sentence

  • The ship rocked, heaved, and cavorted wildly, as though caught in the play of titanic forces!

    Islands of Space | John W Campbell
  • A huge wave, containing several hundred tons of water, smote the lighthouse, and cavorted over their heads.

    The Pillar of Light | Louis Tracy
  • Roy loved and obeyed Polly almost as readily as Peggy, and cavorted off beside her as gay as a grig.

    Peggy Stewart at School | Gabrielle E. Jackson
  • A pair of 92 beautifully spotted coach dogs raced down the drive, and cavorted about the coach, eagerly welcoming them.

  • While the stands cavorted and cheered, Poor kicked the goal.

    On Your Mark! | Ralph Henry Barbour

British Dictionary definitions for cavort

cavort

/ (kəˈvɔːt) /


verb
  1. (intr) to prance; caper

Origin of cavort

1
C19: perhaps from curvet

Derived forms of cavort

  • cavorter, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012