fun

[fuhn]

noun

1. something that provides mirth or amusement.

   A picnic would be fun.

   Synonyms: gaiety, play, pleasure, merriment

2. enjoyment or playfulness.

   She's full of fun.

   Synonyms: gaiety, play, pleasure, merriment

verb (used with or without object)

funned, funning 

1. Informal.,  joke; kid.

adjective

funner, funnest 

1. Informal.,  of or relating to fun, especially to social fun.

   a fun thing to do; really a fun person; the funnest game.

2. Informal.,  whimsical; flamboyant.

   The fashions this year are definitely on the fun side.

fun

/ fʌn /

noun

1. a source of enjoyment, amusement, diversion, etc

2. pleasure, gaiety, or merriment

3. jest or sport (esp in the phrases in or for fun )

4. facetious,  amusement; frivolous activity

5. informal

   1. (adverb) quickly; vigorously

   2. (interjection) not at all! certainly not!

6. to ridicule or deride

7. (modifier) full of amusement, diversion, gaiety, etc

   a fun sport

verb

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fun¹

First recorded in 1675–85; dialectal variant of obsolete fon “to befool”; fond ¹ ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of fun¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. for / in fun, as a joke; not seriously; playfully.

   His insults were only in fun.

2. make fun of, to make the object of ridicule; deride.

   The youngsters made fun of their teacher.

3. like fun, certainly not; of doubtful truth.

   He told us that he finished the exam in an hour. Like fun he did!

More idioms and phrases containing fun

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

Example Sentences

There do appear to be growing expectations of full-size candy bars being doled out instead of the mini or “fun size” versions that were long the Halloween norm.

Read more on MarketWatch

The writer pointed to the standard empirical data points – consumer confidence, morale, the usuals – but eventually landed on the basic plausible theory that chasing down conspiracies is just plain fun.

Read more on Salon

At the end of the debate, the moderators posed the dreaded “fun” question: Who is your favorite U.S. president from Virginia?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As one example, in an interview with English comedian Russell Brand, Rogan poked fun at himself as a child, a kid then learning martial arts, calling himself “so weird” and laughing.

Read more on Salon

Still, the mechanic, 46, said the experience is fun either way.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• celebration 
• distraction 
• enjoyment 
• joke 
• joy 
• laughter 
• pastime 
• pleasure 
• sport