akimbo
Americanadjective
-
with hand on hip and elbow bent outward.
to stand with arms akimbo.
-
(of limbs) splayed out in an awkward or ungainly manner.
After the strenuous hike, she sat on the floor with her legs akimbo.
-
(of limbs) fully extended in opposite directions.
The dancer warmed up with his arms and legs stretched akimbo.
-
to one side; askew; awry: He woke up from his nap, hair akimbo.
They wore their hats akimbo.
He woke up from his nap, hair akimbo.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of akimbo
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English in kenebowe, from unattested Old Norse i keng boginn “bent into a crook” ( i “in,” keng, accusative of kengr “hook,” boginn, past participle of bjūga “to bend”)
Explanation
When you put your hands on your hips and your elbows are sticking out, your arms are akimbo, like when you stand in the bathroom, arms akimbo while yelling, “Who left the toilet seat up?” The adjective akimbo, pronounced "uh-KIM-bo," comes from the Middle English phrase in kenebowe, which meant “at a sharp angle" — a good description for how your arms look when, elbows bent, you have your hands on your hips. Legs can also be akimbo, like when you do a cartwheel or fall down while skiing, your arms and legs sprawling in positions that can best be described as akimbo.
Vocabulary lists containing akimbo
To Kill a Mockingbird
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Strike A Pose: Positions and Posture
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Little Fires Everywhere
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Only the huge boots and akimbo shirt collar remind viewers of his frontier background.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026
Morgan has Olson’s wry delivery, but she’s not pratfalling, gangly limbs akimbo.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2025
The 16-foot-high gilded crucifix is stored in crated sections, Jesus lying akimbo in the garage.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 25, 2021
Weaving together the kinds of fragmentary figurations with which Morton Feldman might have evoked twirling mobiles or intricate tapestries, Ms. Hennies instead evokes the slightly akimbo biorhythms of lives intimately conjoined.
From New York Times • Oct. 15, 2020
She stands there, arms akimbo, staring at me.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
