larking
Having carefree fun
Larking is playful, carefree activity—having fun in a lighthearted, often mischievous way.
The word comes from the bird, whose spirited flight suggested spontaneous amusement.
Someone larking about or larking around is goofing off rather than being serious: We spent the afternoon larking in the park.
The tone is innocent—pranks and hijinks rather than anything harmful.
Playing with energetic movement
- gambolingPlayful jumping about
- cavortingMoving playfully, energetically
- friskingSearching someone's clothing
- skylarkingFrivolous, boisterous play
capering · prancing · frolicking · bounding · leaping · rollicking · sporting · dancing
Playing harmless tricks
- jokingSaying things in fun
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
tomfoolery · jesting · foolery · hijinks · antics · monkeyshines · buffoonery · devilry
Lighthearted fun together
- gaietyLively, exuberant cheerfulness
- gleeExuberant, often impish delight
- exuberanceLively, unrestrained enthusiasm
- jollityCheerful liveliness
cheerfulness · revelry · merrymaking · festivity · joviality · mirth · fun · amusement
Cheerful and without worry
- blitheCheerfully indifferent
- breezyMildly windy, or nonchalant
- jauntyLively and self-assured
- buoyantAble to float
insouciant · nonchalant · easygoing · untroubled · whimsical · spontaneous · unfettered · airy
romping
Playing with energetic movement
- gambolingPlayful jumping about
- cavortingMoving playfully, energetically
- friskingSearching someone's clothing
skylarking · capering · prancing · frolicking · bounding · leaping · rollicking · sporting · dancing · gallivanting
pranking
Playing harmless tricks
shenanigans · tomfoolery · jesting · foolery · hijinks · antics · monkeyshines · buffoonery · devilry · roguery
merriment
Lighthearted fun together
- gaietyLively, exuberant cheerfulness
- gleeExuberant, often impish delight
- exuberanceLively, unrestrained enthusiasm
jollity · cheerfulness · revelry · merrymaking · festivity · joviality · mirth · fun · amusement · delight
lighthearted
Cheerful and without worry
buoyant · insouciant · nonchalant · easygoing · untroubled · whimsical · spontaneous · unfettered · airy · casual
- fooling aroundjoking, kidding, jesting, fooling, teasing
- horseplayroughhousing, hijinks, antics, horseplay, clowning around
- messing aroundfooling, goofing, goofing off, horsing around, messing with
- joyhappiness, gladness, joyfulness, elation, delight
- merrimentmirth, laugh, gaiety, merriment, chuckle
larkingtoiling
Working strenuously, exhaustingly
working · laboring · grinding · slogging · buckling down
larkingmoping
Brooding in dejection
brooding · grieving · mourning · sulking · depressive
larkingdrilling
Hole-making by rotation
training · studying · practicing · concentrating · focusing