amuse
Americanverb (used with object)
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amuses,
present (3rd person singular)
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amused,
past participle, past
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amusing
present participle
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to hold the attention of (someone) pleasantly; entertain or divert in an enjoyable or cheerful manner.
She amused the guests with witty conversation.
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to cause mirth, laughter, or the like, in.
The comedian amused the audience with a steady stream of jokes.
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to cause (time, leisure, etc.) to pass agreeably.
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Archaic. to keep in expectation by flattery, pretenses, etc.
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Obsolete.
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to engross; absorb.
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to puzzle; distract.
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verb
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to keep pleasantly occupied; entertain; divert
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to cause to laugh or smile
Commonly Confused
See bemuse.
Synonym Usage
Amuse, divert, entertain mean to occupy the attention with something pleasant. That which amuses is usually playful or humorous and pleases the fancy. Divert implies turning the attention from serious thoughts or pursuits to something light, amusing, or lively. That which entertains usually does so because of a plan or program that engages and holds the attention by being pleasing and sometimes instructive.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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amusesimple
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amusessimple
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have amusedperfect
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has amusedperfect
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am amusingprogressive
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are amusingprogressive
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is amusingprogressive
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have been amusingperfect progressive
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has been amusingperfect progressive
Past
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amusedsimple
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had amusedperfect
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was amusingprogressive
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were amusingprogressive
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had been amusingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of amuse
First recorded in 1470–80; from Middle French amuser “to divert”; equivalent to a- 5 + muse
Explanation
If you enjoy making people laugh, you like to amuse them, which is a good trait to have as long as you don't amuse people during a math test or other solemn occasion. The verb amuse also means to keep busy in a pleasant way. You might amuse yourself during a long driving trip by playing the alphabet game, where you try to find all the letters from A to Z on roadside signs. If you are a passenger on a plane, you could amuse yourself with a movie on your computer. Just don't get them mixed up and try to watch a movie when you are driving.
Vocabulary lists containing amuse
Commonly Confused Words, List 3
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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.
See Examples For:
“If Ford wants to amuse himself, all right,” rival auto maker Joseph J. Cole said on the Five-Dollar Day.
From Barron's ● May 20, 2026
The temptation to amuse the audience led him to betray his duty to appraise the work of aspiring artists who tremblingly dared present themselves before His Nasty Majesty.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
A steal at $28 for three courses, diners saddle up to the counter, reminiscent of a chef’s table, for a French and Japanese-inspired amuse bouche with a main dessert, followed by petit fours.
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2025
"Slay" as a slang term means to greatly impress or amuse, and "sigma" means popular or successful.
From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2025
The President saw it too and the matter did not amuse him, for he realized it could be the detonator that would set off the powder keg on which his government was delicately perched.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
“It amuses me now to think that he was famous for these insane driving movies,” his niece Judith Newman said on Facebook.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2023
Even when she overworks some crass jokes, Plaza amuses.
From Salon ● Mar. 3, 2023
An anecdote in which Felton draws Alan Rickman’s ire by trampling on his flowing robes amuses, as does the disarming thought of the Snape actor lining up for lunch on set.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 15, 2022
“That amuses us to no end, because it’s like, all we ever do is work together.”
From New York Times ● Sep. 27, 2022
“Indeed! but why so?—I can hardly imagine that any thing which pleases or amuses you, should not please and amuse me too.”
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
Mbappe talked about being amused by an internet meme of his face photoshopped onto "some guy, think he's a Chinese dictator".
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
Commenters seem amused by the apparent gaffe and have chosen to convey their feelings through a plethora of puns, jokes and memes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Then, there are some women who've long left their nails alone, amused to find their routine – or lack thereof – suddenly in vogue.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
Judge Julie Mata, who was presiding over the paternity case, wasn’t as amused.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
If this was about cleaning fish, I wasn’t going to be amused.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
Some reporters even find his insults of the press amusing.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026
And if you watch TV with subtitles, there’s an amusing moment during the appearance of the quartet known as the Isaacs, who are introduced as the Isleys.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
Bambino’s story is one of many amusing anecdotes recounted by Susannah Fullerton in “Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them,” a charming catalog of felines who have helped shape Western literature.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Chunya Munga found the fuss, external caused by team-mate Henry Pollock's new haircut, marking his 50th Saints appearance in Friday's win over Newcastle Red Bulls, amusing.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
I’d heard Mother laugh about Georgie’s rages, but I’d never found them particularly amusing.
From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn
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