laugh

1 of 2

verb

ˈlaf 

ˈläf

laughed; laughing; laughs

intransitive verb

1

a

: to show emotion (such as mirth, joy, or scorn) with a chuckle or explosive vocal sound

The audience was laughing hysterically.

b

: to find amusement or pleasure in something

laughed at his own clumsiness

c

: to become amused or derisive

a very skeptical public laughed at our early efforts

—Graenum Berger

2

a

: to produce the sound or appearance of laughter

a laughing brook

b

: to be of a kind that inspires joy

the blue sky of Autumn laughs above

—Amy Lowell

transitive verb

1

: to influence or move by laughter

laughed the bad singer off the stage

2

: to utter with a laugh

laughs her consent

laughingly

ˈla-fiŋ-lē 

ˈlä-

adverb

laugh

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act of laughing

2

a

: a cause for derision or merriment : joke

b

: an expression of scorn or mockery : jeer

3

laughs plural : diversion, sport

play baseball just for laughs

Synonyms

Verb

• break up
• cackle
• chortle
• chuckle
• crack up
• giggle
• hee-haw
• roar
• scream
• snicker
• titter
• twitter

Noun

• belly laugh
• boff
• boffo
• boffola
• cachinnation
• cackle
• chortle
• chuckle
• giggle
• guffaw
• hee-haw
• horselaugh
• laughter
• snicker
• snigger
• titter
• twitter

Examples of laugh in a Sentence

Verb

What are you laughing about?

The audience was laughing hysterically.

I've never laughed so hard in my life.

I couldn't stop laughing when I saw what he was wearing.

I laughed out loud when I saw him.

He laughed so hard I thought he'd die laughing.

The movie was hilarious. We laughed our heads off.

“I've never seen anything so ridiculous,” he laughed.

Noun

He gave a loud laugh.

a joke that always gets a big laugh

The movie has a lot of laughs.

You're going to be a movie star? That's a laugh.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Allison lies on the floor laughing in shame, but luckily Noel comes to give her a snuggle and some encouragement. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024

The morning the race was called, Hunter texted a few friends to make plans to get together and commiserate, cry, laugh. —Allie Volpe, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024

Noun

Will the gift elicit a momentary laugh and then end up in the trash or being donated to a thrift store? —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024

The light-hearted gesture brought plenty of laughs, highlighting how humor can boost morale in an office setting. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English hliehhan; akin to Old High German lachēn to laugh

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing laugh

• a laugh a minute
• belly laugh
• don't make me laugh
• for a laugh
• get a laugh
• good for a laugh
• have a (good) laugh about (something)
• have/get the last laugh
• have to laugh
• last laugh
• laugh all the way to the bank
• laugh in someone's face
• laugh like a drain
• laugh lines
• laugh off
• laugh on the other side of one's face
• laugh track
• laugh until one cries
• laugh up one's sleeve
• not know whether to laugh or cry

Kids Definition

laugh

1 of 2 verb

ˈlaf 

ˈlȧf

1

a

: to show emotion (as mirth, joy, or scorn) with a chuckle or explosive vocal sound

b

: to become amused

2

: to utter with a laugh

she laughed, "What fun!"

laugher noun

laugh

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or sound of laughing

2

a

: something funny

that game was a real laugh

b

: something deserving scorn

He's an expert? That's a laugh