An antic is a playful, silly, or attention-grabbing action that's meant to amuse or surprise people. When your friend makes funny faces during lunch to get everyone laughing, those are antics. When a puppy bounds around the living room, jumping over cushions and spinning in circles, you might describe its playful behavior as puppy antics.

The word usually refers to behavior that's lighthearted and harmless, though sometimes antics can be mildly mischievous. A class clown's antics might include silly jokes or exaggerated movements during a presentation. In old comedy films, actors performed physical antics like slipping on banana peels or getting tangled in their own props.

You'll often see the word in its plural form, antics, because playful behavior rarely stops at just one silly action. When someone says “I've had enough of your antics,” they mean the silly behavior has crossed from amusing to annoying. Comedian Charlie Chaplin became famous worldwide for his physical antics in silent films, proving that laughter needs no translation.