fun

[fuhn]

noun

something that provides mirth or amusement: A picnic would be fun.
enjoyment or playfulness: She's full of fun.

verb (used with or without object), funned, fun·ning,

Informal. joke; kid.

adjective, fun·ner, fun·nest.

Informal. of or relating to fun, especially to social fun: a fun thing to do; really a fun person; the funnest game.
Informal. whimsical; flamboyant: The fashions this year are definitely on the fun side.

Idioms

for/in fun, as a joke; not seriously; playfully: His insults were only in fun.
like fun, Informal. certainly not; of doubtful truth: He told us that he finished the exam in an hour. Like fun he did!
make fun of, to make the object of ridicule; deride: The youngsters made fun of their teacher.

Origin of fun

1675–85; dialectal variant of obsolete fon to befool. See fond¹

Synonyms for fun

1, 2. merriment, pleasure, play, gaiety.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for for fun

fun

noun

a source of enjoyment, amusement, diversion, etc
pleasure, gaiety, or merriment
jest or sport (esp in the phrases in or for fun)
fun and games facetious, ironic amusement; frivolous activity
like fun informal
1. (adverb)quickly; vigorously
2. (interjection)not at all! certainly not!
make fun of or poke fun at to ridicule or deride
(modifier) full of amusement, diversion, gaiety, etca fun sport

verb funs, funning or funned

(intr) informal to act in a joking or sporting manner

Word Origin for fun

C17: perhaps from obsolete fon to make a fool of; see fond 1

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

Word Origin and History for for fun

fun

"diversion, amusement," 1727, earlier "a cheat, trick" (c.1700), from verb fun (1680s) "to cheat, hoax," of uncertain origin, probably a variant of Middle English fonnen "befool" (c.1400; see fond).

Stigmatized by Johnson as "a low cant word." Older sense is preserved in phrase to make fun of (1737) and funny money "counterfeit bills" (1938, though this may be more for the sake of the rhyme). See also funny.

Idioms and Phrases with for fun

for fun

Also, in fun. As a joke, not seriously. For example, For fun the children told the teacher it was a holiday, or Their teasing was just in fun. [Mid-1800s]

for the fun of it; for kicks. For pleasure or excitement. For example, He played basketball for the fun of it, or They drove around for hours, just for kicks. Also see for the hell of it.

fun

In addition to the idiom beginning with fun

fun and games
funny bone
funny business
funny money

also see:

for fun
like fun
make fun of
more fun than a barrel of monkeys

Also see underfunny.