amuse
verb (used with object)
to hold the attention of (someone) pleasantly; entertain or divert in an enjoyable or cheerful manner.
was amusing
-
past progressiveof amuse.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
And yes, it was amusing to ask ChatGPT questions for this column, but the disclaimer about it often being wrong is real.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026
Dimon, who turns 70 next month, thought the prank was amusing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 18, 2026
It was amusing for a while to watch celebrities squirm in trying to say the right thing when asked about being a nepo baby—a topic interviewers quickly learned led to sound-bite pay dirt.
From Slate ● Jan. 30, 2024
His Belichick-like act at the weekly coordinators’ press conference — all double talk and speaking without actually saying anything — was amusing early in the season.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 23, 2023
He laughed again and I sensed that I was amusing him.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
