gadabout

[ gad-uh-bout ]

noun

1. a person who moves about restlessly or aimlessly, especially from one social activity to another.
2. a person who travels often or to many different places, especially for pleasure.

gadabout

/ ˈɡædəˌbaʊt /

noun

1. informal.
   a person who restlessly seeks amusement

Word History and Origins

Origin of gadabout¹

First recorded in 1810–20; noun use of verb phrase gad about

Example Sentences

Ellington, Basie and Armstrong successfully navigated that perilous world, and these self-described gadabouts got to see this vast country in a way few Americans, and almost no Black Americans, did then.

From Los Angeles Times

She is, after all, the English-born, Oxford-educated former editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Talk and The Daily Beast, as well as a prolific freelance writer, intermittent broadcaster, conference organizer and general gadabout.

From New York Times

Mr. Belmondo was inundated with offers and tried to avoid being typecast as the likable gadabout.

From Washington Post

So for a while, Prince Andrew was just Classic Royal, maybe a wastrel and a gadabout in peacetime, but a standup guy in a war.

From The Guardian

The author insists she is not a gadabout, though after the release of “Primates” she was snapped at any number of benefit galas.

From New York Times