- present participle of amuse.
adjective
Synonym Usage
Amusing, comical, droll describe that which causes mirth. That which is amusing is quietly humorous or funny in a gentle, good-humored way: The baby's attempts to talk were amusing. That which is comical causes laughter by being incongruous, witty, or ludicrous: His huge shoes made the clown look comical. Droll adds to comical the idea of strange or peculiar, and sometimes that of sly or waggish humor: the droll antics of a kitten; a droll imitation.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of amusing
Explanation
The adjective amusing describes someone or something that makes you laugh. Something that you find amusing, like your favorite stand up comic, might be less amusing to your easily offended grandmother. A pastime that's enjoyably diverting can also be described as amusing, like playing board games on a rainy day. Amusing comes from the verb amuse, which is itself from the Middle French word amuser. Interestingly, amuser meant "to stare at stupidly," and the English word originally meant "to deceive by distraction." The more benign funny and enjoyable meanings didn't arise until much later, but they eventually made the original meaning obsolete.
Vocabulary lists containing amusing
Tone and Point of View, List 1
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ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 6
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12 More Interesting Ways to Say "interesting"
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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.
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
He was a player, a coach, a college and NFL Hall of Famer, a pitchman, an analyst, a comedic inspiration, and a rather amusing actor, so long as he played a version of himself.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
There is the usual amusing collection of judges, quirky and less quirky — a King signature.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 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 could never tell if Anatole respected me or just thought I was an amusing child.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
