amusement
Americannoun
-
amusements
plural
-
anything that amuses or entertains; pastime.
The park offers authentic Danish charm and an array of amusements and thrill rides.
- Synonyms:
- game
-
the act of amusing or entertaining; diversion.
He invented indoor golf games for his own amusement, and for the amusement of his children.
-
the state of being amused; enjoyment.
Mom couldn't hide her amusement when my little sister tried to make dinner.
- Synonyms:
- delight
noun
-
something that amuses, such as a game or other pastime
-
a mechanical device used for entertainment, as at a fair
-
the act of amusing or the state or quality of being amused
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing amusement
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Enjoy! Synonyms for "Pleasure"
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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:
The sounds come from all over, a mix of old and new whose origins are difficult to pinpoint, and they are assembled to conjure amusement and delight.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
The Goliath coaster was designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, a Swiss firm widely regarded in the amusement industry for engineering reliable and safe rides.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
The death at Six Flags Over Georgia is at least the seventh there, according to the Doan Law Firm, which tracks amusement park accidents and represents victims.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Joining the project to do just that are some of the brightest minds in the theme park and amusement industry, and they’re doing so without pay and on their own time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
“And so you actually put this piece of court-plaister by for his sake!” said Emma, recovering from her state of shame and feeling divided between wonder and amusement.
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
Admissions to spectator amusements also buoyed consumer spending during the second quarter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 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
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
In its 2022 annual report, the company said that 65 percent of its revenue came from games and amusements.
From Slate ● May 1, 2024
On his birthdays he dragged it up and down the alley, to give proper attention to the amusements held in his name.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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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.
