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

There are, however, a couple of locals watching in amusement. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 6 Apr. 2026

The post has been viewed more than 345,000 times and earned over 45,000 likes, with viewers flooding the comment section with equal parts sympathy and amusement. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026

But then Bennett later pulled the same trick at the Beverly Hilton hotel, to McCartney’s amusement. —Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2026

No one wants to be a jester, debasing oneself for a more powerful person’s amusement. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 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