laugh
to express mirth, pleasure, derision, or nervousness with an audible, vocal expulsion of air from the lungs that can range from a loud burst of sound to a series of quiet chuckles and is usually accompanied by characteristic facial and bodily movements.
to experience the emotion so expressed: He laughed inwardly at the scene.
to produce a sound resembling human laughter: A coyote laughed in the dark.
to drive, put, bring, etc., by or with laughter (often followed by out, away, down, etc.): They laughed him out of town. We laughed away our troubles.
to utter with laughter: He laughed his consent.
the act or sound of laughing; laughter.
an expression of mirth, derision, etc., by laughing.
Informal. something that provokes laughter, amusement, or ridicule: After all the advance publicity, the prizefight turned out to be a laugh.
laughs, Informal. fun; amusement.
laugh at,
to make fun of; deride; ridicule: They were laughing at him, not along with him.
to be scornful of; reject: They stopped laughing at the unusual theory when it was found to be predictive.
to find sympathetic amusement in; regard with humor: We can learn to laugh a little at even our most serious foibles.
laugh off, to dismiss as ridiculous, trivial, or hollow: He had received threats but laughed them off as the work of a crank.
Idioms about laugh
have the last laugh, to prove ultimately successful after a seeming defeat or loss: She smiled slyly, because she knew she would yet have the last laugh on them.
laugh it up, to laugh or joke in a hearty way: He was laughing it up with his friends.
laugh out of court, to dismiss or depreciate by means of ridicule; totally scorn: His violent protests were laughed out of court by the others.
laugh out of the other side of one's mouth, to undergo a chastening reversal, as of glee or satisfaction that is premature; be ultimately chagrined, punished, etc.; cry: She's proud of her promotion, but she'll laugh out of the other side of her mouth when the work piles up.: Also laugh on the wrong side of one's mouth / face.
laugh up one's sleeve. sleeve (def. 9).
Origin of laugh
1synonym study For laugh
Other words for laugh
Other words from laugh
- outlaugh, verb (used with object)
Words Nearby laugh
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use laugh in a sentence
It’s impossible not to think about the people who are missing, impossible not to hear their voices and their laughs or to remember the personality quirks that made them unique.
Tom Konchalski made basketball better. The sport won’t be the same without him. | John Feinstein | February 8, 2021 | Washington Post“One of the best medicines at the moment is having a laugh and having some fun, even if it’s just for five minutes,” McCarthy said.
Implicit in the forum’s bargain, and its name, was that these trades were all high-risk, high-reward bets from traders doing it for the laughs.
As GameStop stock crumbles, newbie traders reckon with heavy losses | Drew Harwell | February 2, 2021 | Washington PostGoing all in on expensive ad inventory and a message played for laughs or other emotions might fall flat in a very turbulent cultural context, especially given that you have to lock your message months if not weeks in advance.
Marketing Briefing: ‘No inspiring message’: Humor, charity become main themes ahead of the Big Game | Kristina Monllos | February 2, 2021 | DigidayAt last, after all the laughs at their expense, after all the coaching changes and front-office shake-ups, after an endless search for a reliable quarterback and sensible plan, they have some hope.
The Cleveland Browns were an NFL feel-good story. Then the coronavirus got jealous. | Jerry Brewer | January 6, 2021 | Washington Post
I watch every episode alone on my couch and I just sit there and laugh, and laugh.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness | Marlow Stern | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHopefully, she got as much of a laugh out of it as the rest of the world has.
Slow Motion Tiger Jump, a Tornado at the Rose Bowl and More Viral Videos | The Daily Beast Video | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWe love to laugh at Kim and Company because it distracts our souls from the horrific reality of their hermetic regime.
Pyongyang Shuffle: Hollywood In Dead Panic Over Sony Hack | James Poulos | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTRamone, who turned to religion while trying to kick drugs, would probably approve (and laugh a little, too).
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings | Melissa Leon | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFirst we laugh, then we begin to wonder why the man was so distracted that he didn't notice he'd taken the doorknob with him.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe burst into a loud laugh, clapped his hands, and danced before the delighted babe.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeMiss Christabel blushed furiously and emitted a sound half between a laugh and a scream.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeSoon after they parted, with a sarcastic laugh from the Spaniard, and Ma'amselle mingled with the crowd.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane Porter"I verily believe they're gone to look at my button," cried Davy, beginning to laugh, in spite of his fears.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. CarrylThis was somewhat tiresome; and, after a rather feeble attempt at a third laugh, Davy said, "I don't feel like it any more."
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. Carryl
British Dictionary definitions for laugh
/ (lɑːf) /
(intr) to express or manifest emotion, esp mirth or amusement, typically by expelling air from the lungs in short bursts to produce an inarticulate voiced noise, with the mouth open
(intr) (esp of certain mammals or birds) to make a noise resembling a laugh
(tr) to utter or express with laughter: he laughed his derision at the play
(tr) to bring or force (someone, esp oneself) into a certain condition by laughter: he laughed himself sick
(intr foll by at) to make fun (of); jeer (at)
(intr foll by over) to read or discuss something with laughter
don't make me laugh informal I don't believe you for a moment
laugh all the way to the bank informal to be unashamedly pleased at making a lot of money
laugh in a person's face to show open contempt or defiance towards a person
laugh like a drain informal to laugh loudly and coarsely
laugh up one's sleeve to laugh or have grounds for amusement, self-satisfaction, etc, secretly
laugh on the other side of one's face to show sudden disappointment or shame after appearing cheerful or confident
be laughing informal to be in a favourable situation
the act or an instance of laughing
a manner of laughter
informal a person or thing that causes laughter: that holiday was a laugh
the last laugh the final success in an argument, situation, etc, after previous defeat
Origin of laugh
1- See also laugh away, laugh down, laugh off
Derived forms of laugh
- laugher, noun
- laughing, noun, adjective
- laughingly, adverb
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with laugh
In addition to the idioms beginning with laugh
- laugh all the way to the bank
- laugh and the world laughs with you
- laugh at
- laughing matter
- laugh off
- laugh one's head off
- laugh out of court
- laugh out of the other side of one's mouth
- laugh up one's sleeve
also see:
- canned laughter
- die laughing
- it's to laugh
- last laugh
- no joke (laughing matter)
- shake with laughter
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse