amusement

[uh-myooz-muhnt]

noun

1. anything that amuses or entertains; pastime.

   The park offers authentic Danish charm and an array of amusements and thrill rides.

   Synonyms: game

2. the act of amusing or entertaining; diversion.

   He invented indoor golf games for his own amusement, and for the amusement of his children.

3. the state of being amused; enjoyment.

   Mom couldn't hide her amusement when my little sister tried to make dinner.

   Synonyms: delight

amusement

/ əˈmjuːzmənt /

noun

1. something that amuses, such as a game or other pastime

2. a mechanical device used for entertainment, as at a fair

3. the act of amusing or the state or quality of being amused

Other Word Forms

• self-amusement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of amusement¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Middle French; amuse, -ment

Example Sentences

In late September, she missed an event at her Dollywood amusement park due to kidney stones.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The network has comically fixated on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s recent diss of Miller, to the amusement of the New York Democrat.

Read more on Salon

A Canadian amusement park is threatening to euthanise 30 beluga whales after the government blocked its request to send them to China.

Read more on BBC

Importantly, for many of America's biggest media companies, news and late-night programming tends to represent a comparatively small part of their overall business, which can extend to movies, amusement parks and internet service.

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Those three words are repeated again and again by parents trying to teach their young sons and daughters good manners, whether it’s at the dinner table, the amusement park or the ice cream shop.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• delight 
• diversion 
• enjoyment 
• hilarity 
• laughter 
• pleasure