clown
Americannoun
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clowns
plural
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a comic performer, as in a circus, theatrical production, or the like, who wears an outlandish costume and makeup and entertains by pantomiming common situations or actions in exaggerated or ridiculous fashion, by juggling or tumbling, etc.
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a person who acts like a clown; comedian; joker; buffoon; jester.
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a prankster; a practical joker.
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Slang. a coarse, ill-bred person; a boor.
- Synonyms:
- bumpkin
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a peasant; rustic.
verb (used without object)
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clowns,
present (3rd person singular)
-
clowned,
past participle, past
-
clowning
present participle
noun
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a comic entertainer, usually grotesquely costumed and made up, appearing in the circus
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any performer who elicits an amused response
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someone who plays jokes or tricks
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a person who acts in a comic or buffoon-like manner
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a coarse clumsy rude person; boor
-
archaic a countryman or rustic
verb
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to perform as a clown
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to play jokes or tricks
-
to act foolishly
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
clownsimple
-
clownssimple
-
have clownedperfect
-
has clownedperfect
-
am clowningprogressive
-
are clowningprogressive
-
is clowningprogressive
-
have been clowningperfect progressive
-
has been clowningperfect progressive
Past
-
clownedsimple
-
had clownedperfect
-
was clowningprogressive
-
were clowningprogressive
-
had been clowningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of clown
1555–65; earlier cloyne, clowne, perhaps akin to Old Norse klunni boor, Danish dialect klunds, Swedish dialect klunn log
Explanation
A clown is someone who makes people laugh, like the guy with the red nose and oversize polka dotted tie. It can also be an insult — a rude buffoon can be called a clown. To clown means to act goofy. The clowns found at circuses and birthday parties usually wear makeup and big shoes, but funny people in regular clothes are often called clowns, too, as in the class clown who tells jokes in school. Also, someone obnoxious can be called a clown, as in “that clown wrecked my car!” Acting like a clown in any way is clowning. A teacher trying to get the attention of kids who are fooling around might say, "Stop clowning around!”
Vocabulary lists containing clown
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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:
Berlant’s a tenured professor at the Make-‘Em-Laugh Institute, and “Parmesan” proves her research-driven thesis statement time and again: There’s no bad mood a good clown can’t improve.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026
At several concerts, the singer balanced his tambourine on his head, adding a touch of mad clown to his rock swagger.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
While some men’s inability to see a queer relationship right before their eyes irritates Rosales, she uses these opportunities to clown.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Mocha, who describes herself as a "fashion clown" and musical theatre lover, says it has taken her nearly a decade to get to this stage but feels it is the "right time".
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
She plucked the clown doll from her bed.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Others—depicting grinning clowns, crying women and morphing objects and creatures, including human figures potted like plants—recall children’s drawings and John Tenniel’s illustrations for “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
It’s a chaotic comedy world created by classically trained performers, including clowns, who’ve studied the art of physical humor and shredded the rule book.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
"We are F1 drivers. We should not look like kids and clowns trying to ram into each other. That's not what F1 needs."
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
Say you don’t pay much attention to the nitty-gritty of politics and think they’re all a bunch of clowns.
From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026
He’s seen billboards with fire-eating clowns and a pretty woman in a feathered headdress.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
It’s rare to see someone so straightforwardly admit they were clowned.
From Slate ● Mar. 23, 2026
“Strangers clowned us,” former Ambassadors player Victoria Henson told me the other day.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
His song Thick Of It, which features Trippie Redd, was nominated for song of the year - despite being something he was "clowned for".
From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2025
The Apollo 7 astronauts also won a special Emmy award for their daily television reports from orbit, during which they clowned around, held up humorous signs and educated earthlings about space flight.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 3, 2023
A year ago, me and Sneaky would’ve clowned him about it.
From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist
Now even Dolly-esque clowning can’t save country music’s current stars from having to take unambiguous positions.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026
Proctor, who studied theater and political science in college, now teaches three classes on clowning at NYU and is the founder of Clown Gym, a New York City studio focused on all things physical comedy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Danielle Smith, a union leader, discovered clowning after falling down an internet rabbit hole.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Expect games, clowning and catharsis that transform helplessness into empowerment and isolation into belonging.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
“No clowning around. No joking around. No switching up your positions when you feel like it.”
From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
