amuse

verb

ə-ˈmyüz 

amused; amusing

transitive verb

1

a

: to entertain or occupy in a light, playful, or pleasant manner

She tried to amuse the child with a story.

b

: to appeal to the sense of humor of

His jokes don't amuse me.

2

a

archaic : to divert the attention of so as to deceive

b

obsolete : to occupy the attention of : absorb

c

obsolete : distract, bewilder

intransitive verb

obsolete : muse

amuser noun

Synonyms

• entertain
• regale

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of amuse in a Sentence

It amuses me to think of how he looked when I last saw him.

a funny story that never fails to amuse

He amused himself with a game of solitaire.

Recent Examples on the Web

Joe Marinelli, the veteran character actor who amused and attracted admirers as the cross-dressing mobster Bunny Tagliatti on the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara, has died. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025

Apparently, the League was not amused when the Stanley Cup was dunked into seawater. —Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 18 June 2025

Well, at first they weren’t amused when Pages reacted angrily and gestured toward Cease after being struck in the upper arm by a 98 mph fastball. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2025

Interspersing themes of kindness, envy, listening and respect with wisecracks and his trademark deadpan humor, actor and comedian Steve Carell helped inspire, and amuse, Northwestern University’s Class of 2025 as their commencement speaker Sunday. —Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing amuse

• amuse-bouche

Rhymes for amuse

• accrues
• accuse
• aircrews
• bamboos
• breakthroughs
• canoes
• cashews
• chartreuse
• confuse
• construes
• defuse
• ensues

Kids Definition

amuse

verb

ə-ˈmyüz 

amused; amusing

1

: to occupy with something pleasant

amuse a child with a toy

2

: to please the sense of humor of

the story amused everyone

amusedly

-ˈmyü-zəd-lē 

adverb

amusingly

-ˈmyü-ziŋ-lē

adverb