escapade
Americannoun
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a wild or exciting adventure, esp one that is mischievous or unlawful; scrape
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any lighthearted or carefree episode; prank; romp
Etymology
Origin of escapade
1645–55; < French < Spanish escapada, equivalent to escap ( ar ) to escape + -ada -ade 1
Explanation
An escapade is an adventure, tinged with a hint of danger. A road trip could be an escapade, or a few weeks making a living as a professional gambler, or posing as your twin sister and taking a test for her in math. You'll notice the similarities between the words escapade and escape. Usually an escapade involves some form of escape. If you cut class and spend the day at the beach, that's an escapade. If you cut class to watch former figure-skating greats boogying to Broadway tunes on ice, that's an escapade at the Ice Capades.
Vocabulary lists containing escapade
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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The Boy on the Wooden Box
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The Egypt Game
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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.
"It was a childish escapade that got out of hand very quickly with tragic consequences," he said.
From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026
But “Venetian Vespers” is more entertaining than sobering; a stylish escapade that even Henry James might relish.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025
Until this escapade, though, we didn’t quite realize the extent to which no one is in charge: Nobody knows how decisions are made or even whether they are made or simply tumble out randomly.
From Slate • Jul. 8, 2025
Their ensuing escapade will surely reach doom levels.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2025
I came off, too, to report the only exclusive information that is given to-day regarding the strange escapade at the Zoo.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
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.
