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.

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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

"I've got huge dark circles under my eyes," she told AFP, laughing.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

"It was the first time, it was all pretty much new to me," he said, adding the main issue was keeping a straight face and not laughing.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

I’ve seen every single episode — some of them twice — and I like to go to sleep laughing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

Few performers could make your blood run cold one minute and have you laughing the next.

From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026

His shirt had little blots of red spreading down the front as he was dripping juice and laughing and watching me, until I laughed, too, at the whole thing.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott

Related Words

• humorous