amused

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Finding something funny or entertaining, so that you smile or laugh a little.

   Grammar: Often followed by at or by: amused at the joke, amused by the child.

   Patterns

   • amused at something
   • amused by something
   • amused to see something

   She was amused by the way the puppy chased its own tail.

   He gave an amused smile when his sister tripped over her own joke.

   We were amused to learn that the famous chef burns toast.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Kept pleasantly occupied or entertained by an activity.

   Grammar: Usually appears with keep or stay: keep the children amused.

   Patterns

   • keep someone amused
   • stay amused

   A box of crayons kept the toddler amused for an hour.

   He kept himself amused on the long flight by solving puzzles.

Word forms

Common combinations

amused by

The audience was amused by the clown's clumsy dance.

look amused

She tried not to look amused when he spilled his drink.

keep someone amused

Songs kept the kids amused on the bus.

mildly amused

The teacher seemed mildly amused by the excuse.

not amused

Dad was not amused when we painted the fence pink.

Synonyms and how they differ

entertained

Entertained suggests you were given enjoyment by a show or activity, while amused focuses on the light laughter you feel.

tickled

Tickled is a more informal and playful way to say you were pleasantly amused.

diverted

Diverted is formal and slightly dated, emphasizing a light distraction from other concerns.

Opposites

Word family

amuse verb

to make someone laugh or smile, or keep them entertained

amusement noun

the feeling of finding something funny

amusing adjective

funny and entertaining

amusingly adverb

in a funny or entertaining way

Commonly confused: amused or amusing?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “amused”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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