bemused

[ bih-myoozd ]

adjective

1. bewildered or confused:

   a bemused expression on his face.

2. lost in thought; preoccupied.
3. mildly amused, especially in a detached way.

bemused

/ bɪˈmjuːzɪdlɪ; bɪˈmjuːzd /

adjective

1. preoccupied; lost in thought

Confusables Note

See bemuse.

Derived Forms

• bemusedly, adverb

Other Words From

• be·mus·ed·ly [bih-, myoo, -zid-lee], adverb
• unbe·mused adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bemused¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; bemuse + -ed ²

Example Sentences

They launch into a noisy but triumphant rendition of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” trading looks of pure, astonished joy as the crowd remains bemused.

From Time

He invited the bemused newsmen to examine the delicate tracery of the insect’s wings.

From Washington Post

Carlson isn’t known for his emotive diversity, so Fox viewers simply saw Carlson flickering around, befuddled and bemused, as the text at the bottom of the screen assured them that it would all be over soon.

From Washington Post

That typically involves engaging a bemused media owner on the other end with knock-knock jokes that don’t have a punchline.

From Digiday

Assembled in the slick, now-familiar “docu-tainment” style that has become the fashion with high-profile shows of its ilk, “The Lady and the Dale” takes a deceptively bemused tone from the start.

From Washington Blade

A bemused line reading sneaks in when you are anticipating a hammy hard sell.

From The Daily Beast

But the prevailing emotion that day, even among us awardees, was a bemused sense of boredom, restlessness and insatiability.

From The Daily Beast

Some folks watch Bieber's challenges with bemused interest, others with disgust, and others with genuine concern.

From The Daily Beast

Messina would introduce himself to bemused staffers and ask them to visit his office for a second or two.

From The Daily Beast

Bemused, two journalists behind me wondered aloud “what this guy is doing here.”

From The Daily Beast

The truth is, I have a little lost my way, and stand bemused at the cross-roads.

From Project Gutenberg

But his trembling nervous fingers and bemused eyes could make nothing of the "case" thus so suddenly brought before him.

From Project Gutenberg

After a time I exchanged it for one of the volumes of sermons, only to be equally bemused.

From Project Gutenberg

She led him, unresisting but bemused, towards the gate, and into a confectioner's.

From Project Gutenberg

Harky pondered a question that has bemused all great philosophers: how can humans be so foolish?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• befuddled
• bewildered
• dazed
• perplexed
• puzzled