Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

hilarity

American  
[hi-lar-i-tee, -lair-, hahy-] / hɪˈlær ɪ ti, -ˈlɛər-, haɪ- /

noun

  1. cheerfulness; merriment; mirthfulness.

  2. boisterous gaiety or merriment.


hilarity British  
/ hɪˈlærɪtɪ /

noun

  1. mirth and merriment; cheerfulness

"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

Related Words

See mirth.

Other Word Forms

  • hyperhilarity noun

Etymology

Origin of hilarity

1560–70; earlier hilaritie, from Latin hilaritās, equivalent to hilari(s) ( hilarious ) + -tās -ty 2

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.

So is their occasional lapse into dry hilarity.

From The Wall Street Journal

Kate Riley follows Ruth from childhood to middle age, writing with kindness, hilarity and aphoristic brilliance about this eccentric woman, a lost lamb who never actually leaves the safety of the flock.

From The Wall Street Journal

The prime minister made the juggling hand gesture that accompanies the reference, prompting class-wide hilarity.

From BBC

From its first season to its last, “Friends” has celebrated Thanksgiving with the hijinks, hilarity and occasional pathos it deserves.

From Los Angeles Times

Cassandra Peterson understands the power of a movie night — or more specifically, the kind of movie night that wobbles between horror and hilarity, where the fake blood maybe gleams brighter than the budget.

From Salon