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Synonyms

lark

1 American  
[lahrk] / lɑrk /

noun

  1. any of numerous, chiefly Old World oscine birds, of the family Alaudidae, characterized by an unusually long, straight hind claw, especially the skylark, Alauda arvensis.

  2. any of various similar birds of other families, as the meadowlark and titlark.

lark 2 American  
[lahrk] / lɑrk /

noun

  1. a merry, carefree adventure; frolic; escapade.

  2. innocent or good-natured mischief; a prank.

  3. something extremely easy to accomplish, succeed in, or to obtain.

    That exam was a lark.

verb (used without object)

  1. to have fun; frolic; romp.

  2. to behave mischievously; play pranks.

  3. Fox Hunting. (of a rider) to take jumps unnecessarily.

    He tired his horse by larking on the way home.
lark 1 British  
/ lɑːk /

noun

  1. a carefree adventure or frolic

  2. a harmless piece of mischief

  3. how amusing!

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (often foll by about) to have a good time by frolicking

  2. to play a prank

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
lark 2 British  
/ lɑːk /

noun

  1. any brown songbird of the predominantly Old World family Alaudidae, esp the skylark: noted for their singing

  2. short for titlark meadowlark

  3. (often capital) any of various slender but powerful fancy pigeons, such as the Coburg Lark

  4. up early in the morning

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
lark Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing lark

    • happy as the day is long (as a lark)

Other Word Forms

  • larker noun
  • larkiness noun
  • larkingly adverb
  • larkish adjective
  • larkishly adverb
  • larkishness noun
  • larksome adjective
  • larky adjective

Etymology

Origin of lark1

before 900; Middle English larke, Old English lāwerce; cognate with German Lerche, Dutch leeuwerik, Old Norse lǣvirki

Origin of lark2

First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain

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.

"Instead of being a morning lark you're going to become more of a night owl," Casement explained.

From Science Daily • Jan. 7, 2026

He began doing it about 20 years ago, saying the idea to offer a choice between candy and a potato came to him as something of a lark.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

He’s reverted to the correct spelling as a sign that the band has lasted well beyond its initial existence as a lark among friends.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2024

Jobless, with no gas or electricity at home, he says he joined the aragalaya for a lark.

From BBC • Sep. 17, 2024

“Well,” said Holly, “you say it was only a lark, Hazel, but at least it gave us two does: and they’re the only two we’ve got.”

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

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.