acrobatics

IPA/ˌækrəˈbætɪks/
KK[ˌækrəbˈætɪks]IPA/ˌækrəˈbætɪks/

acrobatics — noun

1. physical movements or performances that require great skill in balancing, jumpin

1.nounB2
Definition

physical movements or performances that require great skill in balancing, jumping, and controlling the body — for example, walking on a tightrope, turning somersaults in the air, or holding the body still in difficult positions.

Example

Lakan amazed the audience with his acrobatics at the community talent show.

collocation: possessive pronoun + acrobatics (his acrobatics)

The crowd cheered as the two performers carried out daring acrobatics on the high wire.

prepositional phrase: acrobatics on [surface/position]

Common collocations
  • perform acrobatics
  • practise acrobatics
  • daring acrobatics
  • street acrobatics
  • acrobatics show
  • feats of acrobatics
  • acrobatics troupe
Synonyms
  • gymnastics

    gymnastics is a competitive sport with formal routines and apparatus; acrobatics is broader and often associated with circus or street performance

  • tumbling

    tumbling focuses specifically on forward/backward rolls and flips on the ground, while acrobatics includes balancing acts and stunts on wires or equipment

  • stunts

    stunts can refer to any dangerous or impressive act, not necessarily requiring the body control and balance that acrobatics involves

Grammar Patterns

perform / practise / do acrobatics

acrobatics + of + noun phrase

Common Mistakes

He is training acrobatics every day.
He is training in acrobatics every day.
'acrobatics' as a discipline requires a preposition ('in') after 'train', not a direct object.
Acrobatic is a difficult sport.
Acrobatics is a difficult sport.
The noun form is 'acrobatics' (with an -s), not 'acrobatic' (which is an adjective).

Word family

  • acrobat
    nounB1
  • acrobatic
    adjectiveB2
  • acrobatically
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While 'acrobatics', 'gymnastics', 'tumbling', and 'stunts' all involve impressive physical movement, they differ in setting and scope. 'Gymnastics' is a formal Olympic sport with strict rules, apparatus (vault, bars, beam), and competitive scoring — an athlete does gymnastics in a gym, not on the street. 'Tumbling' is a narrower subset: sequences of rolls, handsprings, and flips performed along a floor mat, without the balancing or aerial elements of acrobatics. 'Stunts' is the broadest term and can include car jumps or fight choreography that have nothing to do with body control. 'Acrobatics' sits in the middle: it is not tied to one sport or setting, and it always involves balance, agility, and precise control — whether on a circus tightrope, a park bench, or a gym floor.

gymnastics ↗tumbling ↗stunts ↗balancing acts

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • feats of acrobatics
  • display of acrobatics
  • form of acrobatics

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekFrenchEnglish

The word 'acrobatics' comes from the Greek 'akrobatos', meaning 'walking on tiptoe' — from 'akros' (highest, tip) and 'bainein' (to walk). It entered English through French 'acrobate' in the 19th century, originally referring to a tightrope walker. Over time, the meaning expanded to cover all kinds of agile, balancing performances.

First known use

1882

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1