fool

verb

fooled; fooling; fools

intransitive verb

1

a

: to behave foolishly

told the children to stop their fooling

see also fool around

b

: to meddle, tamper, or experiment especially thoughtlessly or ignorantly

Don't fool with that drill.

see also fool around with

2

a

: to play or improvise a comic role

b

: to speak in jest : joke

I was only fooling.

3

: to contend or fight without serious intent or with less than full strength : toy

a dangerous man to fool with

transitive verb

1

: to make a fool of : deceive

2

obsolete : infatuate

3

: to spend on trifles or without advantage : fritter

—used with away

Synonyms of fool

• deceive
• trick

Examples of fool in a Sentence

When she first told us that she was getting married, we thought she was fooling.

His disguise didn't fool anybody.

He really had me fooled.

Stop fooling yourself—she doesn't really love you.

Recent Examples on the Web

Pros & Cons Rosetta Stone is now called Rosetta Stone Sapphire—but don't be fooled. —Jill Duffy, PC Magazine, 28 May 2026

He’s been fooled constantly by having an impressive drive in his car. —Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

Jim said he was fooled by two rounds of significant insider buys from Hill and Tim Cook, outgoing Apple CEO and Nike director. —Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 27 May 2026

Iwamasa fooled their family, Madeline Morrison wrote. —Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing fool

• act/play the fool
• a doddering old fool
• a fool and his money are soon parted
• a fool for
• any fool
• April fool
• fool about
• fool about with
• fool around
• fool around with
• fool of a
• fool's cap
• fool's errand
• fool's gold
• fool's paradise
• fool's parsley
• fool with
• made a fool of himself
• make a fool of oneself
• make a fool (out) of
• not fool about
• not fool around
• (the) more fool one
• there's no fool like an old fool

Rhymes for fool

• boule
• brule
• buhl
• cool
• drool
• ghoul
• mule
• pool
• poul
• rule
• school
• spool

Kids Definition

fool

1 of 2 noun

ˈfül 

1

: a person who lacks good sense or judgment

2

: a person formerly kept in a noble or royal household to amuse with jests and pranks

fool

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to spend time idly

just fooling around

b

: to meddle or tamper thoughtlessly or ignorantly

don't fool with that dial

2

: to speak or act in fun : joke

I was only fooling

3

: to make a fool of : trick