carnival

[ˈkɑːrnɪvəl]

carnival Definition

a festival or traveling amusement show, typically held in the streets and incorporating music, dance, and colorful costumes.

Using carnival: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "carnival" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The carnival in Rio de Janeiro is one of the biggest in the world.

  • Example

    The town's annual carnival attracts thousands of visitors.

  • Example

    The carnival atmosphere was infectious, with people dancing and singing in the streets.

carnival Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for carnival

Idioms Using carnival

  • life is full of ups and downs, good times and bad times

    Example

    He always says that life is a carnival, so we should enjoy it while we can.

  • to stop engaging in wild or reckless behavior and start taking life more seriously

    Example

    After years of partying, he decided it was time to leave the carnival behind and focus on his career.

  • to participate in a wild or exciting activity or lifestyle

    Example

    She decided to join the carnival and travel the world as a street performer.

Phrases with carnival

  • a person who stands outside a carnival attraction and tries to attract customers by shouting and making noise

    Example

    The carnival barker was trying to entice people to play his game.

  • a musical suite composed by Camille Saint-Saëns that depicts various animals through different instruments

    Example

    The 'Carnival of Animals' is a popular piece of classical music.

  • a type of iridescent glassware that was popular in the early 20th century

    Example

    The antique shop had a beautiful collection of carnival glass.

Origins of carnival

from Italian 'carnevale', meaning 'to remove meat'

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Summary: carnival in Brief

The term 'carnival' [ˈkɑːrnɪvəl] refers to a festival or traveling amusement show, often held in the streets, featuring music, dance, and colorful costumes. It is celebrated worldwide, with the Rio de Janeiro carnival being one of the most famous. 'Carnival' extends into phrases like 'life is a carnival,' which implies that life has its ups and downs, and 'leave the carnival behind,' which means to stop engaging in wild behavior.

How do native speakers use this expression?