Showing results for "laughing"

• present participle of laugh.

laughing

American  

[laf-ing, lah-fing] / ˈlæf ɪŋ, ˈlɑ fɪŋ /

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

• unlaughing
  adjective
• laughingly
  adverb

---

Etymology

Origin of laughing

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

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

laughing

And in a figurative sense, the hard-luck Southerners in these bawling, impish stories all have the feeling that the world is laughing at their names.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

Footage shared by McHugh on social media showed her laughing and smiling with family and friends screaming in delight as they celebrated her victory at a watch party in Cardiff.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

They should be laughing, because it’s kind of hilarious.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

“I realized there are people here who have no idea what this movie is,” Cvijic said, laughing.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026

I burst out laughing, and he laughs, too.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• humorous

---