fooled around

verb

past tense of fool around
1
as in horsed around
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior quit fooling around on the jungle gym, or you'll get hurt

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2
as in played
to spend time in aimless activity we fooled around outdoors for a while, then went in to get some work done

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fooled around Not too long ago, artificial intelligence was more or less a science project in which data scientists and developers fooled around with one-off small or test projects. — Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fooled around
  1. cut up
  2. played
  3. showed off
  4. messed around
  5. acted up
  6. kicked around
Verb
  • What parents can do on hectic mornings Nemours recommends doing as much as possible the night before, from setting out dishes to cutting up fruit.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Mix a package of instant potatoes with a half packet of stuffing mix and some cut up salami.
    — Diana Helmuth, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of cut up
Verb
  • Upon the Lincoln’s arrival in the morning, service members could be seen working aboard the deck as loudspeakers played announcements about the process for disembarkation.
    — Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026
  • For Jaissle, a defensive midfielder who had preferably played in the Premier League was essential.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of played
Verb
  • Green showed off his dual-threat ability during his four possessions.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Two days after a dominant close to the joint practice against the Chicago Bears by the rebuilt defense, the roster depth Cincinnati is banking on as a weapon of attack this season showed off in a 27-9 win against Chicago.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of showed off
Verb
  • Then in spring training this year, Hollowell again messed around with different changeup grips while incorporating mental cues from previous coaches, and something clicked with a circle-change grip.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
  • Dragstrem, who focuses more on production, has messed around with it but was left unsatisfied; McGill, who’s more lyrics-driven, wants nothing to do with the tech.
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2026
Definition of messed around
Verb
  • And of course, Peterson not playing would have made some wonder if the McDonald’s All-American’s hamstring had acted up again.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 Dec. 2025
Definition of acted up
Verb
  • No balls were kicked around, but a first impression was made about a pitch that’s cropped tighter than a Pebble Beach fairway yet in impressive shape after four games over 11 days.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
  • Near a door leading to a loading dock, a group of players on the host Vegas Golden Knights — including forward Mitch Marner, who went on to score a regulation hat trick in a 5-4 win — stood in a circle and kicked around a soccer ball.
    — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 8 June 2026
Definition of kicked around

Browse Nearby Words

fooled
fooled around
fooled (with)
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Cite this Entry

“Fooled around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fooled%20around. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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