English Reference

Word

acrobatic

Phoneticsac·ro·bat·ic

US/ˌækɹəˈbætɪk/

UK/ˌækɹəbˈætɪk/

Definition

adj. describing movements that are very difficult, graceful, and require a lot of skill. You use this to talk about people who do flips or balance on small objects.

adj. relating to or involving highly skilled, graceful, and difficult physical movements. Often used to describe performances in gymnastics, circus acts, or even the agile movements of animals.

Examples

“The gymnast performed an acrobatic routine on the bars.”

“The cat moved with such acrobatic grace that it managed to land perfectly on the narrow windowsill.”

“The dancer's acrobatic feats were met with thunderous applause, as she executed a series of complex aerial spins with a level of control that seemed almost superhuman.”

Examples

simple

“The gymnast performed an acrobatic routine on the bars.”

contextual

“The cat moved with such acrobatic grace that it managed to land perfectly on the narrow windowsill.”

complex

“The dancer's acrobatic feats were met with thunderous applause, as she executed a series of complex aerial spins with a level of control that seemed almost superhuman.”

Real-World Examples

“But the wine glasses here – first six of them, then dozens – are used for acrobatic tricks rather than music.”
The Guardian · 25 Aug 2026

Etymology

From acrobat + -ic.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

acrobaticAdjectiveacrobaticsNoun

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference