laughing

American  

[laf-ing, lah-fing] / ˈlæf ɪŋ, ˈlɑ fɪŋ /

adjective

1. that laughs or is given to laughter.

   a laughing child.

2. uttering sounds like human laughter, as some birds.

3. suggesting laughter by brightness, color, sound, etc..

   a laughing stream; laughing flowers.

4. laughable.

   The increase in crime is no laughing matter.

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noun

1. laughter.

Other Word Forms

• laughingly adverb
• unlaughing adjective

Etymology

Origin of laughing

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at laugh, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

People began laughing at the same comedians and enjoying the same songs simultaneously.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

And then they start laughing, and they explained to me what’s ham and what’s hamburger.”

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

I am not above laughing at other people's surnames.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

He comes over laughing, pulls up to me, looks at my monitor, gives me stage fright, then elbows me and says, “You sure you want to frame it like that?”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

She dips her paddle in and out faster, which does nothing for our forward motion, and I let go of my own paddle and bend forward, unable to sit up straight, I’m laughing so hard.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• humorous