amusement
Americannoun
-
anything that amuses or entertains; pastime.
The park offers authentic Danish charm and an array of amusements and thrill rides.
- Synonyms:
- game
-
the act of amusing or entertaining; diversion.
He invented indoor golf games for his own amusement, and for the amusement of his children.
-
the state of being amused; enjoyment.
Mom couldn't hide her amusement when my little sister tried to make dinner.
- Synonyms:
- delight
noun
-
something that amuses, such as a game or other pastime
-
a mechanical device used for entertainment, as at a fair
-
the act of amusing or the state or quality of being amused
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of amusement
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Middle French; see origin at amuse, -ment
Explanation
Amusement is a feeling of being entertained and happy. Just think about how you feel when you visit an amusement park, and you will get the idea. When something amuses you, it makes you laugh, holds your attention, entertains you, or all three. An amusement is an activity that produces that type of feeling. Watching a basketball game and flying a kite are amusements. Also, doing something fun fills you with the emotion of amusement. To amuse is to entertain, and when you add the suffix -ment to the end of the verb, you get the noun or the feeling you gain from being amused.
Vocabulary lists containing amusement
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Enjoy! Synonyms for "Pleasure"
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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.
See Examples For:
Readers who might be unaware of this facility should imagine an amusement park minus the fun and whimsy.
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026
Ureña, a 22-year-old right-hander who has emerged as another potential ace, speaks of Soriano with a giddy amusement mixed with a solemn respect for how the starter has survived in the big leagues.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
She grilled Claude for the right combination of swish and sparkles, to the amusement of her nosy older sister.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
Fighters will put their bodies and health on the line in the punishing D.C. heat with no medical insurance and little compensation for the amusement of the wealthy few.
From Slate ● Jun. 14, 2026
“She asking about angels and monsters and things,” Bitter called over her shoulder, her voice a blend of amusement and pride.
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
In 1987, Mr. Birney’s Conor is a happy nerd, comfortably living alone in a small Baltimore house with a shelf of videotapes and other amusements.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026
If the company was to lean into amusements at more pubs, Mr Mackenzie's CV may be an asset.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2025
Much like its kiddie counterpart, Chuck’s Arcade offers a blend of retro and modern amusements — classics like Donkey Kong and Mortal Kombat sit alongside newer fare like Halo and Connect Four Hoops.
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2025
In its 2022 annual report, the company said that 65 percent of its revenue came from games and amusements.
From Slate ● May 1, 2024
They had put aside similar childish amusements too recently to be able to watch them now without a touch of contempt.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
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.
