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

Ultimately, one suspects Perkins views Liz’s dilemma as little more than an excuse to construct a fun exercise in nightmare inducement that possesses the same craftsmanship that Malcolm clearly put into his swanky cabin.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s campy, it’s cheesy, it’s way more fun than you expect it to be, but there’s a knowingness to the whole endeavor.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"And then you've got me, who just kicks the ball around on a Sunday for fun!"

Read more on BBC

Mr. Pierce, the author of two previous books on the history of animation and Disney studios, shows through his anecdotes how fluid and improvisational collaboration can be—and how much fun.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"But more broadly, she says, "I see games as a way for people to connect, to have fun.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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