noun
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somersault
SUH-muh-solt
Somersault (noun) means a full 360-degree roll of the body, forwards or backwards, either in the air or on the ground, so the feet pass over the head. Example: “The gymnast landed the somersault without a wobble.”
noun
1
A full 360-degree roll of the body, forwards or backwards, either in the air or on the ground, so the feet pass over the head.
"The gymnast landed the somersault without a wobble."
"My little brother kept doing somersaults across the living room floor."
verb
1
To perform this kind of forward or backward roll.
"The stunt driver somersaulted the car and walked away unhurt."
"The diver somersaulted twice before hitting the water."
How to use somersault
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA head-over-heels flip of your whole body.
Common pairings
do a somersault
backward somersault
somersault through the air
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Word forms
- Plural
- somersaults
- Third person singular
- somersaults
- Past tense
- somersaulted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The gymnast landed the _____ without a wobble.
Etymology
From an old French word for the same move, sombresault, which traces back through Occitan sobresalt to Latin suprā ("over") + saltus ("jump") — literally "an over-jump."
Related words
Rhymes for somersault
See all rhymes for somersault →Frequently asked questions
What does “somersault” mean?
The word “somersault” means a full 360-degree roll of the body, forwards or backwards, either in the air or on the ground, so the feet pass over the head. In plain terms, a head-over-heels flip of your whole body.
How do you pronounce “somersault”?
“Somersault” is pronounced SUH-muh-solt (/ˈsʌmɚˌsɔlt/ in IPA).
How do you use “somersault” in a sentence?
Here is “somersault” used in a sentence: “The gymnast landed the somersault without a wobble.”
What part of speech is “somersault”?
Depending on how it is used, “somersault” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “somersault” come from?
The word “somersault” comes from Latin. From an old French word for the same move, sombresault, which traces back through Occitan sobresalt to Latin suprā ("over") + saltus ("jump") — literally "an over-jump.".
How many meanings does “somersault” have?
“Somersault” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a full 360-degree roll of the body, forwards or backwards, either in the air or on the ground, so the feet pass over the head.
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