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Synonyms

belly laugh

American  

noun

  1. a deep, loud, hearty laugh.


belly laugh British  

noun

  1. a loud deep hearty laugh

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of belly laugh

First recorded in 1920–25

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.

His older sister, Averie, was a protector who “beat up everybody for me from age 3 to like 15,” Domingo says, letting out an extended belly laugh.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Morrison misses his late partner’s gigantic belly laugh that would engulf everything in its orbit.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 4, 2024

There are moments in the show that aren't necessarily there to make you have a belly laugh, but they make you smile.

From Salon • Sep. 30, 2023

Magic Johnson possesses more than a megawatt smile and a belly laugh that reminds you of your favorite uncle.

From Washington Post • Apr. 16, 2023

But sometimes Sam Watson and Lige Moss forced a belly laugh out of Joe himself with their eternal arguments.

From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

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