laughing

American  

[laf-ing, lah-fing] / ˈlæf ɪŋ, ˈlɑ fɪŋ /

adjective

1. that laughs or is given to laughter.

   a laughing child.

2. uttering sounds like human laughter, as some birds.

3. suggesting laughter by brightness, color, sound, etc..

   a laughing stream; laughing flowers.

4. laughable.

   The increase in crime is no laughing matter.

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noun

1. laughter.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unlaughing
  adjective
• laughingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of laughing

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at laugh, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

"Either way, I win," he told the BBC, laughing.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

“After it went in, I was laughing pretty hard,” Ehlers said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

“She told me it looks like a graveyard,” Lee says, laughing.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Whether the lawyers were laughing when they typed this is known only to them.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

I caught a glimpse of the movie players in the front seat—the flapper clutching her hat against her head and the fella with his head tossed back, laughing as he gripped the wheel.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• humorous