What does cavort mean?
Cavort is a verb meaning to jump, dance, or move about in a lively, exuberant, and playful way. It describes unrestrained physical high spirits: puppies cavorting in a garden, dancers cavorting across a stage, or children romping through waves. The word can also be applied to people behaving in a flamboyant or uninhibited manner, in which case it may take on a slightly disapproving or gossipy edge — tabloid headlines frequently use it to suggest scandalous or improper conduct. Cavort is informal to neutral in tone and pairs naturally with prepositions such as about, around, and with. Its etymology is genuinely uncertain: it emerged in American English in the late eighteenth century, most likely as an alteration of "curvet," the term for a horse's leaping movement. Vivid and kinetic, it is a useful alternative to flatter words like play or dance whenever energy and abandon are central to the image.
verbTo jump or dance around in a lively, playful, or boisterous manner.
- To leap or move about in an energetic, playful, or exuberant way.
- (Of people) to behave in a flamboyant, uninhibited, or attention-seeking manner, sometimes with a suggestion of impropriety.
"The puppies cavorted across the lawn, chasing each other through the sprinkler spray."
"Children cavorted on the beach all afternoon, building sandcastles and splashing in the shallows."
"The tabloids photographed the actor cavorting at the nightclub until dawn."
"Cavort" first showed up in American writing in the late eighteenth century — and its origins are so murky that even etymologists admit they can only guess where it came from, most likely a playful mangling of "curvet."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cavort
Cavort appeared in American English in the late eighteenth century, though its exact origins remain uncertain. The most widely accepted theory derives it as an alteration of "curvet," from French "courvette," ultimately from Latin "curvare" (to bend), referring to a horse's springing leap — but this connection, while plausible, cannot be stated with certainty.
Related word forms
How cavort is actually used
Informal to neutral in register. The word often carries a light, cheerful connotation when describing animals or children, but applied to adults it can carry a faintly disapproving or sensational tone, implying unrestrained or inappropriate behavior — a nuance common in tabloid usage.
Easily confused with cavort
A curvet is a specific leap made by a trained horse rearing on its hind legs, while cavort refers to any general playful jumping or romping.