1
as in to horse around
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
quit fooling around on the jungle gym, or you'll get hurt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to play
to spend time in aimless activity
we fooled around outdoors for a while, then went in to get some work done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fool around
Bigger, bolder personalities may shine as jokers, always fooling around, or as storytellers, bringing imagination to life.
—
Julianna Bragg, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025
While Mark and Helly were fooling around, Helly wasn’t fulfilling her promise to go get the directions Irving left tucked behind Dylan’s motivational poster.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 21 Feb. 2025
While the siblings have the habit of getting into troubles and to only use their creative skills to fool around, Michael sees in them a real talent.
—Maelle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Players were in a dorm room fooling around with a gun.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for fool around
Julianna Bragg, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025
While Mark and Helly were fooling around, Helly wasn’t fulfilling her promise to go get the directions Irving left tucked behind Dylan’s motivational poster.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 21 Feb. 2025
While the siblings have the habit of getting into troubles and to only use their creative skills to fool around, Michael sees in them a real talent.
—Maelle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Players were in a dorm room fooling around with a gun.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for fool around
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fool around
Verb
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Running or horsing around with sparklers can also cause injuries and burns when users trip and fall.—
Justin Laube,
EverydayHealth.com,
2 July 2025
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Umberto Rispoli squeezed between horses around the top of the stretch and then rode Journalism to a tremendous rally.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
24 May 2025
Verb
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No word on the role Koch is playing, and official plot details for the film are being kept under wraps, although it’s described as a comedic drama set in the world of artificial intelligence.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
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Willits played baseball at Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Other parts of the plan to cut up to $37 million from TSU's budget include reductions in non-instructional staff that would save $6-7 million and instructional staff cuts that would account for another $5-6 million.—
Rachel Wegner,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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National media reports in the last few weeks indicated Trump will dissolve the EPA's Office of Research and Development and cut up to 75% of its jobs.—
Scott Wartman,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Wimbledon was a font of enviable wrist candy again this week, with celebrities showing off some stellar watches courtside.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
12 July 2025
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Simpson took to Instagram to show off her birthday look.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
Verb
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No more messing around with dials or having to adjust sound levels, for example.—
Eric Hutto,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Not messing around, the company hires Zora (Scarlett Johansson), an experienced soldier of fortune, to lead a team that also includes fellow mercenary Duncan (Mahershala Ali) and Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), a paleontologist.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Sizes Tablecloths should hang about 8-16 inches on each side for formal dining and about 3-6 inches on each side for casual dining.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
10 June 2025
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Most asteroids hang about in the Mars to Jupiter region, and the ones near Earth obviously hang about a bit closer.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
2 Oct. 2024
Verb
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His calf was acting up and a decision was taken last Thursday for him and Inter’s other players with niggling injuries — Yann Bisseck, Piotr Zielinski and Benjamin Pavard — to leave the Club World Cup early.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
2 July 2025
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Floral and spicy notes bring to mind a meadow in full bloom (without making your allergies act up, thankfully).—
Danielle Sinay,
Glamour,
28 May 2025
Verb
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There are a number of great kitchenware deals kicking around, including markdowns on nonstick and stainless steel cookware, air fryers, Keurigs, and immersion blenders.—
Rachel Fletcher,
Architectural Digest,
11 July 2025
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The idea for another ‘Mamma Mia!’ installment, though, has been kicking around for years.—
Rance Collins,
IndieWire,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fool around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fool%20around. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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