amuse

amuse

verb \ə-ˈmyüz\

amusedamus·ing

Definition of AMUSE

transitive verb

1

a archaic : to divert the attention of so as to deceive

b obsolete : to occupy the attention of : absorb

c obsolete : distract, bewilder

2

a : to entertain or occupy in a light, playful, or pleasant manner <amuse the child with a story>

b : to appeal to the sense of humor of <the joke doesn't amuse me>

intransitive verb

obsolete : muse

— amus·ed·ly \-ˈmyü-zəd-lē\ adverb

— amus·er noun

Examples of AMUSE

1. It amuses me to think of how he looked when I last saw him.
2. a funny story that never fails to amuse
3. He amused himself with a game of solitaire.

Origin of AMUSE

Middle French amuser, from Old French, from a- (from Latin ad-) + muser to muse

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to AMUSE

Synonyms

disport, divert, entertain, regale, solace

Related Words

absorb, busy, distract, engage, engross, immerse, interest, involve, occupy; beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, delight, enchant, enthrall (or enthral), fascinate; grip, hypnotize, intrigue, mesmerize; coddle, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, please, pleasure, spoil; appease, comfort, conciliate, console, content, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate, soothe

Near Antonyms

bore, jade; drain, enervate, exhaust, fatigue, tire, wear, wear out, weary; aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, disturb, exasperate, fret, gall, grate, harass, harry, irk, nettle, peeve, perturb, pester, pique, upset, vex

Synonym Discussion of AMUSE

amuse, divert, entertain mean to pass or cause to pass the time pleasantly. amuse suggests that one's attention is engaged lightly <amuse yourselves while I make dinner>. divert implies distracting attention from worry or routine occupation especially by something funny <a light comedy to divert the tired businessman>. entertain suggests supplying amusement by specially contrived methods <a magician entertaining children at a party>.

Rhymes with AMUSE

abuse, accuse, Andrews, bad news, bemuse, berceuse, chanteuse, charmeuse, chartreuse, coiffeuse, confuse, contuse, danseuse, defuse, diffuse, diseuse, disuse, effuse, enthuse, excuse, ill-use, incuse, infuse, masseuse, misuse, perfuse, peruse, recluse, recuse, refuse, reuse, short fuse, suffuse, Toulouse, transfuse, vendeuse