amused
Americanadjective
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pleasurably entertained, occupied, or diverted.
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displaying amusement.
an amused expression on her face.
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aroused to mirth.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of amused
First recorded in 1590–1600; amuse + -ed 2 ( def. )
Compare meaning
How does amused compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
The word amused means "pleasantly occupied" or "entertained.” If you love dogs, you’ll be amused just watching puppies frolic in the park all day. If you love everything, you’re easily amused. Amuse comes from the Middle French word amuser, meaning "to divert the attention, beguile, delude." If on a boring rainy afternoon, you amused everyone, you entertained everyone, probably making them laugh. If you were ever told, "I'm not amused," however, this goes beyond not finding something funny — that person might be angry and offended at something you said or did.
Vocabulary lists containing amused
In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
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Hooked on a Feeling, List 2
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Positive and Uplifting Tones
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And last year, four decades after first documenting life in Lacock, he again turned his flat but amused and sympathetic eye on the picturesque village to capture the smallest details of everyday life.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
The few protesters taunted the agents, who mostly amused themselves.
From Slate ● May 29, 2026
I suppose I first saw “Brigadoon” as a kid at my grandmother’s house, amused at the way she goofily sang along.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
His antics in recent days have been keeping crowds amused, including scratching against metal posts, and rolling into the water while asleep.
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026
While she’s talking, Mrs. Pritchett’s face shifts from tired to amused to possibly intrigued.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
