amusement

American  

[uh-myooz-muhnt] / əˈmjuz mənt /

noun

• amusements
  plural

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

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amusement British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-amusement
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• amusements
  plural

Etymology

Origin of amusement

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

Explanation

Amusement is a feeling of being entertained and happy. Just think about how you feel when you visit an amusement park, and you will get the idea. When something amuses you, it makes you laugh, holds your attention, entertains you, or all three. An amusement is an activity that produces that type of feeling. Watching a basketball game and flying a kite are amusements. Also, doing something fun fills you with the emotion of amusement. To amuse is to entertain, and when you add the suffix -ment to the end of the verb, you get the noun or the feeling you gain from being amused.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

amusement amusements

While experts played down the wider significance of the vote in a constituency that overwhelmingly backed Brexit a decade ago, the by-election has drawn international attention and amusement.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

Much of the early gondola opposition was from Chinatown residents who didn’t like the idea of living under what would resemble an amusement park ride.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026

Activities "such as skydiving, white-water rafting, roller coasters or other amusement rides" would "fall short of the standard".

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Readers who might be unaware of this facility should imagine an amusement park minus the fun and whimsy.

From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026

Mater Lumley sipped her coffee with a look of private amusement.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

In 1987, Mr. Birney’s Conor is a happy nerd, comfortably living alone in a small Baltimore house with a shelf of videotapes and other amusements.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026

"Konami shifted its strategy for a while, away from console games, and focused its efforts on the amusements markets, things like pachinko machines," Mr Dring said.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2025

Robinson, who created MTV’s “Sweet/Vicious” and has helped shepherd a handful of other fluffy amusements, is a promising popcorn wit, deftly ensuring the tone is neither too sober nor too snide.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2025

Much like its kiddie counterpart, Chuck’s Arcade offers a blend of retro and modern amusements — classics like Donkey Kong and Mortal Kombat sit alongside newer fare like Halo and Connect Four Hoops.

From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2025

The collected knowledge, art, and amusements of all human civilization were there, waiting for me.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Related Words

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