amused
Americanadjective
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pleasurably entertained, occupied, or diverted.
-
displaying amusement.
an amused expression on her face.
-
aroused to mirth.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of amused
First recorded in 1590–1600; amuse + -ed 2 ( def. )
Compare meaning
How does amused compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
The word amused means "pleasantly occupied" or "entertained.” If you love dogs, you’ll be amused just watching puppies frolic in the park all day. If you love everything, you’re easily amused. Amuse comes from the Middle French word amuser, meaning "to divert the attention, beguile, delude." If on a boring rainy afternoon, you amused everyone, you entertained everyone, probably making them laugh. If you were ever told, "I'm not amused," however, this goes beyond not finding something funny — that person might be angry and offended at something you said or did.
Vocabulary lists containing amused
In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
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Hooked on a Feeling, List 2
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Positive and Uplifting Tones
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
"We can't even fill the coffee cups to the brim or they spill," his son Linus, 19, added with an air of amused exasperation.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Maxidel was not amused and insisted on the validity of previous agreements.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Hardin is more amused than annoyed, particularly given the origin of the FTD Burger.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
Houdon’s Franklin, though clearly an old man, looks amused and engaged, with a youthful gaze, but also highly intelligent and judicious, sociable but not entirely available, a bit enigmatic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
This made Paddler giggle, but his father was not amused.
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
