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.

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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.

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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!

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verb

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

2. to play a prank

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

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lark Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing lark

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

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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

Explanation

A lighthearted, fun episode is a lark. You could describe the wonderful day you spent with friends exploring little fishing towns along the coast of Maine as a lark. Often unplanned, a lark can happen when you are feeling adventurous. You might decide on a lark to audition for a reality show — and be picked! The act of trying something new like this can also be called larking. A lark is also a kind of songbird. Using lark to describe carefree fun might come from 1800s sailors' slang, skylark, to describe playing in the rigging of the ship, up high like a lark.

Example Sentences

"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

For Jim Lovell, this was more than a childish lark.

From BBC • Aug. 8, 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

“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

Related Words

• prank