Meaning & use
cartoons
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“cartoons” is a form of “cartoon”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Funny drawings or animated shows, especially ones made for children or to make people laugh.
Grammar: This is the plural form; use the singular 'cartoon' for a single drawing or show.
Patterns
- watch cartoons
- draw cartoons
- a cartoon about something
The children watch cartoons every Saturday morning.
He spends his evenings drawing cartoons of his friends.
My favorite cartoons are the old ones from the 1990s.
nounplural
Drawings in a newspaper or magazine that use humor to comment on politics or news.
Grammar: Plural of 'cartoon'; often used for the editorial drawings in a paper.
Patterns
- political cartoons
- a cartoon of someone
The newspaper prints political cartoons on the opinion page.
Her cartoons often make fun of politicians.
He collects cartoons from old magazines.
verbtransitive
Draws a picture of someone in a funny or exaggerated way.
Grammar: Third-person singular of the verb 'cartoon'; it takes an object: cartoon someone.
Patterns
- cartoon someone
- cartoon something for someone
The artist cartoons famous people for the magazine.
She cartoons her coworkers in a little notebook.
He cartoons the mayor in a silly way every week.
Word forms
| base form | cartoon |
|---|---|
| third person singular | cartoons |
| past tense | cartooned |
| past participle | cartooned |
| -ing form | cartooning |
Common combinations
- watch cartoons
- The kids watch cartoons before school.
- draw cartoons
- She likes to draw cartoons of animals.
- political cartoons
- Political cartoons can be very funny.
- animated cartoons
- Animated cartoons take a long time to make.
- a cartoon character
- Mickey Mouse is a famous cartoon character.
Synonyms and how they differ
- comics
- 'Comics' usually means the printed strips or books, while 'cartoons' can also mean animated shows on TV.
- animations
- 'Animations' is a more technical word for moving drawings; 'cartoons' is the everyday word for funny ones.
- caricatures
- A caricature is one exaggerated drawing of a person, while cartoons can be whole shows or strips.
Word family
- cartoon noun
- a single funny drawing or animated show
- cartoonist noun
- a person who draws cartoons
- cartooning noun
- the activity or art of drawing cartoons
- cartoonish adjective
- looking like a cartoon; exaggerated or silly
Commonly confused: cartoons or carton?
cartoons vs carton
A 'carton' is a container, such as a carton of milk. 'Cartoon' is a drawing or show.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'cartoons' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Cartoons' means funny drawings or animated shows, so watching them on Saturday mornings fits. 'Carton' is the container word, so the milk sentences need 'carton', not 'cartoons'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cartoons”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.