noun

acrobat

AK-ruh-bat

Acrobat (noun) means a performer skilled in feats of balance, flexibility, and coordination, such as tumbling or tightrope walking. Example: “The acrobat balanced on a wire thirty feet above the crowd.”

noun

A performer skilled in feats of balance, flexibility, and coordination, such as tumbling or tightrope walking.

"The acrobat balanced on a wire thirty feet above the crowd."

"Circus acrobats spent hours each day practicing their routines."

verb

To move or perform with the agility and balance of an acrobat.

"The dancer acrobatted across the stage in one fluid motion."

How to use acrobat

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who performs impressive physical stunts involving balance and agility, like a gymnast or circus performer.

Common pairings

a skilled acrobat acrobat performance circus acrobat

Word forms

acrobated past tense, acrobats plural, acrobats singular

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The _____ balanced on a wire thirty feet above the crowd.

Etymology

From French acrobate, tracing back to Greek akrobatēs, "one who walks on tiptoe" — a combination of akron ("tip, peak") and bainein ("to walk").

Origin: French

Frequently asked questions

What does “acrobat” mean?

The word “acrobat” means a performer skilled in feats of balance, flexibility, and coordination, such as tumbling or tightrope walking. In plain terms, someone who performs impressive physical stunts involving balance and agility, like a gymnast or circus performer.

How do you pronounce “acrobat”?

“Acrobat” is pronounced AK-ruh-bat (/ˈæk.ɹə.bæt/ in IPA).

How do you use “acrobat” in a sentence?

Here is “acrobat” used in a sentence: “The acrobat balanced on a wire thirty feet above the crowd.”

What part of speech is “acrobat”?

Depending on how it is used, “acrobat” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “acrobat” come from?

The word “acrobat” comes from French. From French acrobate, tracing back to Greek akrobatēs, "one who walks on tiptoe" — a combination of akron ("tip, peak") and bainein ("to walk").

How many meanings does “acrobat” have?

“Acrobat” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a performer skilled in feats of balance, flexibility, and coordination, such as tumbling or tightrope walking.

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Vocabulary lists that include acrobat:

Words with French origins