hilarious

adjective

hi·​lar·​i·​ous hi-ˈler-ē-əs How to pronounce hilarious (audio)
hī-
: marked by or causing hilarity : extremely funny
hilariously adverb
hilariousness noun

Examples of hilarious in a Sentence

Raymond is different, so well written and acted, so perfectly pitched, that even the silences, especially the silences, are hilarious. It makes comedy look easy. James Morris, Wilson Quarterly, Autumn 2005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tim Burton's adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved (by children) and reviled (by critics and librarians) book, is quirky, well acted, often hilarious, and visually sumptuous, but don't go to it expecting sweetness in anything except the title. Richard Alleva, Commonweal, 12 Aug. 2005
In fairness, McEnroe does have genuine passion for the game, and his willingness to take on the sport's sacred cows is admirable. His candor and hilarious random ruminations as an analyst make even the most lopsided matches worth watching. Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated, 17 Sept. 2001
Since his material is genuinely funny, at times hilarious, it makes for a smashing use of audio as a unique entertainment medium. Sedaris has an unexpectedly high-pitched voice that comes across as majorly mischievous in its delivery … Publishers Weekly, 5 May 1997
Some people don't like his comedy, but I think he's hilarious. She gave us a hilarious account of her first days as a teacher.
Recent Examples on the Web With beaks chock-full of vegetation, these seabirds - always somewhat clumsy-looking on land - were simply hilarious. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 In the comments, people shared their reactions to the hilarious mix-up. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 His unique experience spying on his own funeral to hilarious effect was the sequence that got Netflix onboard, Johnson says. Will Tizard, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024 So many unforgettable & hilarious memories growing up together. Jackie Fields, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hilarious 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hilarious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

irregular from Latin hilarus, hilaris cheerful, from Greek hilaros

First Known Use

circa 1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hilarious was circa 1840

Dictionary Entries Near hilarious

Cite this Entry

“Hilarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hilarious. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

hilarious

adjective
hi·​lar·​i·​ous hil-ˈar-ē-əs How to pronounce hilarious (audio)
-ˈer-;
hī-ˈlar-,
-ˈler-
: causing hilarity : wildly funny
hilariously adverb
hilariousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hilarious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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