clown

noun

\ ˈklau̇n

Definition of clown

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : farmer, countryman

2 : a rude ill-bred person : boor

3a : a fool, jester, or comedian in an entertainment (such as a play) specifically : a grotesquely dressed comedy performer in a circus

b : a person who habitually jokes and plays the buffoon

c : joker sense 1b

clown

verb

clowned; clowning; clowns

Definition of clown (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to act as or like a clown always clowning around

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about clown

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Synonyms for clown

Synonyms: Noun

buffo, buffoon, harlequin, zany

Examples of clown in a Sentence

Noun

Those big shoes make you look like a clown! Who's the clown standing in the middle of the road? those clowns at the state capital

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Aside from the terrifying wall of clowns, here are other products that would fit right in. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "The best decor to shop from your favorite TV shows," 13 Aug. 2019 And don’t forget the powerful appeal of an evil clown: People love (and love to hate) Bill Skarsgard’s freaky Pennywise. — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, "Comic-Con: Our 5 biggest unanswered questions, from 'Top Gun: Maverick' to Marvel," 22 July 2019 When shooting the original 1978 film, production designer Tommy Lee Wallace picked up two masks from a Hollywood Boulevard magic shop: a clown and William Shatner as Captain Kirk in Star Trek. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "25 Scary and Sweet Halloween Facts to Trick Your Friends," 11 July 2019 They were dressed as clowns and their dog was dressed as a circus animal. — Sheryl Devore, chicagotribune.com, "Gorton's Dog Day, film festival salute incredible canines," 11 June 2019 Living alongside Pepi Nana are Mr. Onion, an onion; Colly Wobble, a sort of clown; Sleepy Dibillo, a narcoleptic rabbit; Lambkin, a lamb on wheels; and Little Nana, a very tiny doll, who sleeps in a matchbox. — Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, "‘Moon and Me,’ from a mind behind ‘Teletubbies,’ has a dreamy charm," 10 June 2019 Following a trailer released back in May, this latest peek at the upcoming September 6 release, has once again eternally ruined the sight of clowns for us all. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "“It: Chapter 2" Released Its Final Trailer," 18 July 2019 Pittman's career path as a professionalized Florida Man began in high school, when he was elected class clown. — Author: Logan Hill, Anchorage Daily News, "Is it OK to laugh at Florida Man?," 16 July 2019 The film follows a troop of clowns who spread rumors around the kingdom to manipulate politics. — Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, "Spackman Entertainment Acquires South Korea's Simplex Films," 15 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

This is not just a bunch of clowns getting clowned. — Zan Romanoff, Vox, "What we get wrong about multilevel marketing, explained by the host of the popular podcast about it," 30 Nov. 2018 Now, that's skewed a little from clowning Vancouver 11-on-9 last weekend, and nobody else has played more matches than Sporting. — Sam Mellinger, kansascity, "Mellinger Minutes: Moose and the Royals' rare pace, Chiefs' draft, and one more Bud Lathrop story | The Kansas City Star," 24 Apr. 2018 Despite getting knocked out of the playoffs, Lance Stephenson is still here to clown J.R. Smith on Instagram. — Dakota Crawford, Indianapolis Star, "After J.R. Smith's Game 1 blunder, Lance Stephenson drops an Instagram burn," 1 June 2018 Seems as if the airlines are still clowning and being targeted with lawsuits because of the clownery. — Breanna Edwards, The Root, "Nigerian Woman, Who Was Removed From United Flight After a White Passenger Complained She Was ‘Pungent,’ Files Lawsuit," 14 May 2018 Wearing a black polka-dot dress with a signature red lip, Gomez posed for selfies with eager fans and clowned around with some of the youngest in the venue’s photobooth. — Melania Hidalgo, PEOPLE.com, "Selena Gomez Surprises Fans at Hospital Prom — and Sticks Around for Selfies," 25 June 2018 Budda Baker was in Seattle this weekend and attended the UW football spring preview Saturday at Husky Stadium, where he was seen clowning around with his former coaches and teammates. — Mike Carter, The Seattle Times, "Ballard shooting victim reportedly brother of ex-Husky star Budda Baker," 23 Apr. 2018 Minutes earlier, Stern delivered a characteristically bawdy address in honor of the classic New Jersey rockers, giving the band plenty of love while clowning on frontman Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora and Rolling Stone scion Jann Wenner. — Maeve Mcdermott, USA TODAY, "Howard Stern's 10 best Bon Jovi jokes at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction," 14 Apr. 2018 Digital assistants egg on every other appliance in the house to clown around. — Joe Queenan, WSJ, "My Electronic Devices Are Laughing at Me," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clown.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.