laughing

[laf-ing, lah-fing]

adjective

1. that laughs or is given to laughter.

   a laughing child.

2. uttering sounds like human laughter, as some birds.

3. suggesting laughter by brightness, color, sound, etc..

   a laughing stream; laughing flowers.

4. laughable.

   The increase in crime is no laughing matter.

noun

1. laughter.

Other Word Forms

• laughingly adverb
• unlaughing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of laughing¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; laugh, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

The bet lasted barely 90 feet, as Roberts stumbled and face-planted just past second base, a pratfall which was captured on social media and celebrated by his laughing players.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Will Goodreau, who was visiting Pace, for instance, got “so many emails and texts,” he said, laughing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“And obviously I’m not that dark and scary, but, you know, I’ve gone through life, I’m 27. I live in New York and it’s pretty scary over here,” she added, laughing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I was asked to leave a lot of places,” she recalls, laughing.

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"I started crying and laughing at the same time. I couldn't believe it. I kept thinking, 'Oh my God, she's coming home.'"

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• humorous