AMUSING • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Amusing

Translators

Dictionaries

Courses

Other

Home

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/əmjˈuzɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Amuse v. t. (past & past part. amused; pres. part. amusing)

To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder. (Obs.) "Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were amused in receiving their gold." "Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house."

To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing or mirthful emotions; to divert. "A group of children amusing themselves with pushing stones from the top (of the cliff), and watching as they plunged into the lake."

To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude. "He amused his followers with idle promises."

Synonyms: To entertain; gratify; please; divert; beguile; deceive; occupy. To Amuse, Divert, Entertain. We are amused by that which occupies us lightly and pleasantly. We are entertained by that which brings our minds into agreeable contact with others, as conversation, or a book. We are diverted by that which turns off our thoughts to something of livelier interest, especially of a sportive nature, as a humorous story, or a laughable incident. "Whatever amuses serves to kill time, to lull the faculties, and to banish reflection. Whatever entertains usually awakens the understanding or gratifies the fancy. Whatever diverts is lively in its nature, and sometimes tumultuous in its effects."

Amuse v. i. To muse; to mediate. (Obs.)

adjective

Amusing adj. Giving amusement; diverting; as, an amusing story.

See images of 'Amusing'

Etymology of 'Amusing'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Amusing" Quotes from Famous Books

... Philadelphia—I have never taught in the public schools; and any survey of the educational facilities of the country that leaves them out would resemble a performance of Hamlet with the role of the prince omitted. Nevertheless, my brief sojourn here has been a chequered and, in some respects, an amusing one; and any one who chooses to hear my record of it may add as much salt as he pleases, for I promise to be perfectly frank in ...

— Lippincott's Magazine, Vol. 22, September, 1878 • Various

... connected with one of our daily newspapers gave the following amusing burlesque on the trials ...

— The Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56, No. 2, January 12, 1884 - A Weekly Journal for the Farm, Orchard and Fireside • Various

... the berths, which, in this apartment, fortunately remained dry; and here we continued ensconced the livelong day. Our dinner was served up to us on our pillows. The gentlemen chose the dryest spots, raised their umbrellas, and sat under them, telling amusing anecdotes, and saying funny things to cheer us, until the rain ceased, and at nine o'clock in the evening we were gladdened by the intelligence that we had reached the pier ...

— Wau-bun - The Early Day in the Northwest • Juliette Augusta Magill Kinzie

... ridiculously cry out, but be silent; for such is the property of this tree, that whoever ascends it, sees man or woman below in such situations." The cunning wife now came down, and said to her husband, "What a charming garden and amusing spot is this! where one can gather fruit, and at the same time behold the wonders of the world." The husband replied, "Destruction seize the wonders which falsely accuse man of abomination!" In ...

— Supplemental Nights, Volume 5 • Richard F. Burton

... amusing part of this contest was that, at the instant Tall Bear started on his aerial flight, ...

— The Story of Red Feather - A Tale of the American Frontier • Edward S. (Edward Sylvester) Ellis

More quotes...