To frolic means to play around in a lively, carefree way, moving about with joy and energy. When puppies frolic in a park, they chase each other, tumble over themselves, and bounce around without a care in the world. When children frolic in ocean waves, they jump, splash, and run through the surf, laughing and enjoying the moment completely.

The word captures a special kind of playfulness: frolicking means playing with complete abandon and happiness. You might watch lambs frolicking in a spring meadow, leaping and kicking their legs in the air for no reason except pure enjoyment. Friends might frolic through fallen autumn leaves, kicking them up and spinning around.

The word can also be used as a noun: a frolic is a playful adventure or outing. Saying, “We had quite a frolic at the beach,” means you had a wonderfully fun, energetic time. There's something innocent and wholehearted about frolicking. It means being so caught up in the fun of the moment that you forget to be self-conscious or worried about looking silly. Animals frolic naturally, and humans frolic when they let themselves be completely, joyfully playful.