fun

noun \ ˈfən \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of fun

1 : what provides amusement or enjoyment; specifically : playful often boisterous action or speech

full of fun

2 : a mood for finding or making amusement

all in fun

3 a : amusement, enjoyment

sickness takes all the fun out of life

play games for fun

b : derisive jest : sport, ridicule

a figure of fun

They made fun of the way he talked.

4 : violent or excited activity or argument

Insults were exchanged and then the fun began.

See fun defined for English-language learners

See fun defined for kids

Examples of fun in a Sentence

I can't remember when I've had so much fun.
Sickness takes all the fun out of life.

Recent Examples of fun from the Web

People made fun of him for sitting on what was dubbed a booster seat.

— nicholas thompson, WIRED, "Within Facebook, a Sigh of Relief Over the Zuckerberg Hearings," 13 Apr. 2018
The point — a point often regurgitated by internet commenters — is that The Simpsons makes fun of everyone.

— dana schwartz, EW.com, "Why The Simpsons' response to the Apu controversy was so heartbreaking: Essay," 9 Apr. 2018
The polka dot print is fun and whimsical and can be treated as a neutral print.

— tara lamont-djite, Harper's BAZAAR, "THE RUNWAY BUY: 3 Statement Pieces & How to Wear Them," 9 Apr. 2018
For the classic gaming junkies, there’s a ton of fun little references and fourth-wall breaking, too, giving you even more reason to scour every inch of its world.

— nick statt, The Verge, "Minit is a beautifully crafted love letter to classic games and the art of death," 7 Apr. 2018
Molloy and her teammates had plenty of fun Wednesday, scoring three times in the first half on corner kicks en route to a 5-0 win over visiting Wheaton North in the DuPage Valley Conference opener for both teams.

— matt le cren, Naperville Sun, "Head of the class: Leah Molloy helps Naperville North score three goals in first half," 5 Apr. 2018
Spending four, five hours on the course is just too much fun for all of us.’’ When Palmer showed up for the first preseason meeting of the new golf team, coach Matt Hunt welcomed another Eagle to the team.

— terry monahan, Pomerado News, "Inaugural Maranatha boys golf team includes a girl," 5 Apr. 2018
Her on-set blowups were so legendary that staffers in the newsroom would sometimes turn on the monitors and watch the unfolding drama on mute for fun.

— gabriel sherman, The Hive, "“You Don’t Attack a Kid”: Inside the Laura Ingraham Nightmare at Fox News," 5 Apr. 2018
During the show's fifth and final season, the star rocked several seriously cute ensembles (including some fun maternity looks!)—but the one thing she's worn more than anything else?

— taysha murtaugh, Country Living, "Everyone Wants Joanna Gaines's Leather Leaf Earrings From Fixer Upper Season 5," 4 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of fun

English dialect fun to hoax, perhaps alteration of Middle English fonnen, from fonne dupe

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1726

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

fun Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of fun

fun, jest, sport, game, play mean action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter. fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

- played cards just for fun

jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

- hurt by remarks said only in jest

sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

- teasing begun in sport led to anger

game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

- made game of their poor relations

play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

- pretended to strangle his brother in play

fun

verb

Definition of fun

funned; funning

intransitive verb

: to indulge in banter or play : joke

See fun defined for English-language learners

Examples of fun in a Sentence

He's just funning with you.
just a couple of old friends funning with each other

Recent Examples of fun from the Web

Wide-open acceleration might fun, but slowing down that speeding hunk of metal is much more important.

— alex leanse, Popular Mechanics, "10 Tire and Brake Problems All Drivers Need to Know," 23 Feb. 2017

Origin and Etymology of fun

see ¹fun

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1802

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

fun Synonyms

Synonyms

banter, chaff, fool, gag, jape, jest, jive, joke, jolly, josh, kid, quip, wisecrack;

Related Words

gibe (or jibe), haze, jeer, mock, rag, rally, razz, rib, ridicule, tease;

caricature, lampoon, parody, satirize;

amuse, divert, entertain;

Phrases

crack wise;

fun

adjective

Definition of fun

sometimes funner; sometimes funnest

1 : providing entertainment, amusement, or enjoyment

a fun party

a fun person to be with

2 : full of fun : pleasant

have a fun time

See fun defined for English-language learners

Examples of fun in a Sentence

Our vacation was a fun time.
She's a fun person to be with.
The park is a fun place to visit.
We had a fun time at the movie.

Recent Examples of fun from the Web

It’s hard to imagine a designer other than Jeremy making that retro look feel genuinely fun.

— nicole phelps, Vogue, "The Moschino Looks Jeremy Scott Should Reboot at H&M," 15 Apr. 2018
Series co-creator Danny McBride and Walter Goggins star in this devilishly fun series, which earned high marks initially but couldn't maintain its GPA, lasting for only two seasons (2016-18).

— chris ball, cleveland.com, "'My Friend Dahmer,' now on DVD and Blu-ray (review)," 15 Apr. 2018
Kane Hodder, who debuted in Part VII, was the first actor to play Jason more than once, and Jason Takes Manhattan offers a particularly fun take on the character.

— scott meslow, GQ, "Friday the 13th," 13 Apr. 2018
The Bayer-Boatwright children aren't exactly fun to be around, either.

— kristi turnquist, OregonLive.com, "'Here and Now': HBO's Portland-set drama has been an intriguing disappointment," 12 Apr. 2018
My top five highlights: 1) Mr. Zuckerberg revealed his own personal data was caught up in the Cambridge Analytica incident. Refreshing to know even our tech overlords (or one of Mr. Zuckerberg’s pals) can’t resist a fun personality quiz.

— lara o’reilly, WSJ, "CMO Today: Zuckerberg Returns From Washington; Facebook Time Spent Slips; E-Cig Ads Recall Big Tobacco Creative," 12 Apr. 2018
Which sounds very fun-and-games, but this is a place for serious coffee drinkers, where hot coffees are brewed by the cup to bring out the best in the beans.

— carol deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Find an out-of-the-ordinary coffeehouse to match your mood," 10 Apr. 2018
But for a loyal band of thrill-seeking followers, the sleek, militaristic design and customizable features make the high-powered rifle simply fun to own.

— author: abigail hauslohner, Anchorage Daily News, "The allure of the AR-15: ‘I know I don’t need it,’ says one recent buyer, but that’s not the point," 9 Apr. 2018
The free event will include fun and educational activities for all ages.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "Earth Day Fair is Saturday in Rancho Bernardo," 6 Apr. 2018

Can something be funner or funnest?

Fun is a word which many people find does not live up to its definition, especially when it is used as an adjective (meaning “full of fun” or “amusing, enjoyable, pleasant”). In fact, there is a sizable portion of the English-speaking world which does not consider fun to be a proper adjective at all; these people feel that it is only a noun, which is why you sometimes hear that you should write “it was so much fun,” rather than “it was so fun.” It thereby stands to reason that if fun is not an adjective, it should not be used in the comparative and superlative forms of funner and funnest.

However, we do provide a definition for the adjectival use of fun, due to the fact that it has been used in such a fashion since at least the mid-1800s. We also list funner and funnest as comparative and superlative forms, due to the fact that these words are often employed in this manner (although we recognize that there are some who accept fun as an adjective, but feel that “more fun” and “most fun” are preferable). Including funner and funnest is not a directive that you should use these forms; it is a recognition of their existence, and you should feel free to use them or avoid them, as you see fit.

Origin and Etymology of fun

see ¹fun

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1827

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

fun Synonyms

Synonyms

amusing, delightful, diverting, enjoyable, entertaining, pleasurable;

Antonyms

boring, drab, dreary, dull, flat, heavy, humdrum, jading, leaden, monotonous, pedestrian, pleasureless, ponderous, stodgy, stuffy, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, weary, wearying;

Near Antonyms

disagreeable, displeasing, distasteful, uncongenial, unlovely, unpleasant, unpleasing, unwelcome;

recreational;

antic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, funny, hilarious, humorous, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, sidesplitting, uproarious;

blithesome, gay, gleeful, happy, jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, merry, mirthful, sunny;

exciting, stimulating, thrilling;

FUN Defined for English Language Learners

fun

noun

Definition of fun for English Language Learners

: someone or something that is amusing or enjoyable : an enjoyable experience or person
: an enjoyable or amusing time
: the feeling of being amused or entertained

fun

verb

Definition of fun for English Language Learners

: to speak or act in a way that is not serious

fun

adjective

Definition of fun for English Language Learners

: providing amusement : amusing or enjoyable

FUN Defined for Kids

fun

noun \ ˈfən \

Definition of fun for Students

1 : someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment

They were fun to play with.

2 : a good time

We had a lot of fun.

She painted for fun.

3 : words or actions to make someone or something an object of ridicule

He made fun of my singing.

fun

adjective

Definition of fun for Students

1 : providing fun

a fun trip

2 : full of fun

We had a fun time together.

Learn More about fun

See words that rhyme with fun Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fun Spanish Central: Translation of fun Nglish: Translation of fun for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fun for Arabic speakers

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fun

Definition of fun

Video: Fun, Funner, Funnest

Examples of fun in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fun from the Web

Origin and Etymology of fun

fun Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of fun

fun

Definition of fun

Examples of fun in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fun from the Web

Origin and Etymology of fun

fun Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases

fun

Definition of fun

Examples of fun in a Sentence

Recent Examples of fun from the Web

Can something be funner or funnest?

Origin and Etymology of fun

fun Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to FUN

Related Phrases

FUN Defined for English Language Learners

fun

Definition of fun for English Language Learners

fun

Definition of fun for English Language Learners

fun

Definition of fun for English Language Learners

FUN Defined for Kids

fun

Definition of fun for Students

fun

Definition of fun for Students

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