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:
So I try to devise things that I think will amuse him.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
“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
"Politics was all around me," ap Iorwerth told the BBC's Political Thinking podcast, recalling how, as a toddler, he would amuse himself by piling up Plaid Cymru leaflets.
From BBC ● May 8, 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
I flipped through it, hoping to find something useful, but it was filled with sticky-sweet adventure stories meant to amuse children.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
“What amuses me most about Skip is he often represents everyone in the deal,” Ford, who was a client before he rose to fame with “Star Wars,” told The Times in 2005.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2025
My husband’s explosive commentary sometimes amuses me and sometimes wears me down.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2025
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
He repeats the words on his shirt tag in different accents at one point, which amuses.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2022
Maybe people will think it's something we plotted together if I seem like it amuses me now.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
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
Matt Zingler, one of the co-founders of Rolling Loud, was amused when Garelick told him about the slippery moment while first pitching the film.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
She added it amused her that, out of her whole family, she had only named her cat, Kizzy, who was a "legend of those parts".
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
Judge Julie Mata, who was presiding over the paternity case, wasn’t as amused.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
“Very funny, Jeremy,” Mr. Vincent said in a tone that didn’t sound amused.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
In “You Can See Everything,” a fractured three-hour documentary about the corporate fraudster Elizabeth Holmes, he has made something oddly innovative, deeply fascinating and extremely amusing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
“I have no taste for anything excepting amusing myself,” he admitted to his indulgent mother in a letter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
It felt both meta and existential, or just an amusing bug.
From Salon ● Oct. 12, 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
The earmuffs made him appear, at the same time, reassuring, amusing, and, ultimately, loveable.
From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman
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