amusement

noun

amuse·​ment ə-ˈmyüz-mənt 

1

: a means of amusing or entertaining

what are her favorite amusements

2

: the condition of being amused

could not hide his amusement

3

: pleasurable diversion : entertainment

plays the piano for amusement

Synonyms of amusement

• entertainment
• recreation

Examples of amusement in a Sentence

I'm reading this novel for amusement.

Several games were provided for the education and amusement of the children.

Recent Examples on the Web

Arcade games, go-karts, amusement rides, and more from Fun Spot America are all up for grabs following the Fayetteville park's recent closure. — Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Besides being a legendary singer and songwriter of chart-toppers, Parton as a shrewd entrepreneur turned her namesake Tennessee theme park Dollywood into one of the world’s top amusement destinations. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026

Without authentic longing, and without any bittersweet complexity to the portrait of one social order replacing another, we’re left with little more than puffs of amusement, enough to escalate your mood but bound to fade by morning. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2026

Dozens of people have accused Combs of playing games with their lives, sometimes for self-serving business reasons, other times for his own amusement. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing amusement

• amusement arcade
• amusement park
• to one's amusement

Kids Definition

amusement

noun

amuse·​ment ə-ˈmyüz-mənt 

1

: something that amuses

2

: the condition of being amused