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definitions

fun

[fuhn]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fun ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

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RELATED WORDS

enjoyable, pleasant, entertaining, amusing, lively, enjoyment, joke, celebration, pastime, joy, pleasure, sport, laughter, distraction, picnic, nonsense, gaiety, absurdity, playfulness, entertainment

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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fun ON THESAURUS.COM
1, 2. merriment, pleasure, play, gaiety.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fun

Contemporary Examples of fun

Historical Examples of fun

  • So while you were having your fun there I was having mine here, and I had it good and plenty.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • Anyway, he said, Jim had already sure-enough drowned as fur as there was any fun in it.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • The fun and the excitement of the game are more than the game.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • There's more where it came from, and no end of fun going after it.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • And that's why I'm outlastin' a lot of the boys and still gettin' my fun out of the game.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions 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 fun
n.

"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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with fun

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.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.