fun

noun

\ ˈfən

Definition of fun

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

3a : 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.

fun

verb

funned; funning

Definition of fun (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

: to indulge in banter or play : joke

fun

adjective

sometimes funner; sometimes funnest

Definition of fun (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : providing entertainment, amusement, or enjoyment a fun party a fun person to be with

2 : full of fun : pleasant have a fun time

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Can something be funner or funnest? More Example Sentences Learn More about fun

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Choose the Right Synonym for fun

Noun

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

Can something be funner or funnest?

Adjective

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.

Examples of fun in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

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

Adjective

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 on the Web: Noun

Playing the game for fun, gliding across campus like heroes.... — Wil Haygood, WSJ, "‘Adolph Rupp and the Rise of Kentucky Basketball’ Review: Hoop Dreams and Nightmares," 29 Mar. 2019 At a time when the fashion industry is, at long last, embracing women above a certain age, Linter believes there's no time like the present for older women to not just embrace makeup—but have fun with it. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "A Guide to Ageless Makeup for Women Over 50, According to an Industry Veteran," 27 Mar. 2019 Please enjoy this bit of VR silliness from back in 2017—we certainly had fun making it! — Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, "Ars enters VR and destroys multiple starships in Star Trek: Bridge Crew," 26 Dec. 2018 Actually, this isn't even the first time that Ariana has sung show tunes for fun. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Ariana Grande Just Casually Belts Out Show Tunes with Her Friends at Parties," 18 Feb. 2019 But the materials issue could be solved, and the labor inefficiency may be a product of the fact that most urban farmers are hobbyists and are doing it for fun. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Urban farms could be incredibly efficient—but aren’t yet," 27 Dec. 2018 Many museums are dotted near the riverbanks, making for fun (and educational) pit stops. — Juliet Izon, Woman's Day, "The 12 Most Scenic Drives in the Country to Add to Your Bucket List ASAP," 4 Dec. 2018 Oh, and what with the tongue-in-cheek posing for the cameras during their show, that fashion needs to get back to some unfettered joy and fun. — Mark Holgate, Vogue, "Symonds Pearmain Just Emerged As the Latest Label to Know From London," 16 Feb. 2019 And in a fun twist, Will changes the names of all three women, so his daughter has to guess which one became his wife. — Alexis Jones And Deanna Janes, Harper's BAZAAR, "21 Rom-Coms to Stream on Netflix this Valentine's Day," 13 Feb. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Offerings range from classics like chicken milanese and bucatini carbonara, to fun new combinations like farro risotto and roasted shrimp with ajo blanco sauce. — SELF, "The Best Meal-Kit Delivery Services to Try in 2019," 1 Jan. 2019 Orca that carried dead, decomposing calf for weeks now returns to fun with friends. — Fox News, "FOX NEWS FIRST: Clues in stolen plane mystery; Omarosa's secret White House recording sparks security concerns," 13 Aug. 2018 The fundraiser will fun from Monday, October 1, through Sunday, October 7 — after that, 50% of proceeds will go to the same charities. — Leah Prinzivalli, Teen Vogue, "Lipslut Unveiled a 'F*ck Kavanaugh' Lipstick," 1 Oct. 2018 But here are some top spots to visit and fun things to do with your best friend. — Lainey Seyler, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "8 places you can bring your dog around Milwaukee this summer," 16 May 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

There were some pretty obvious hints and some more subtle ones, but there were still so many fun goodies to look out for. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, "All the Fun Easter Eggs in "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists" Episode 2," 28 Mar. 2019 Park Open House Family fun day, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., to discover your community parks. — Mary Lou Cruz, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Fort Lauderdale area events July 18-28," 13 July 2018 The dance classes with 75-year-old Japanese choreographer Yuichi Sugiyama are especially fun. — Daisy Finer, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Golden Door Is the World's Most Iconic Spa," 21 Dec. 2018 Tesla can take credit for proving to the world that electric cars can be fun, and faster than their internal combustion engine competitors. — Jack Stewart, WIRED, "Pininfarina's Back With a $2 Million Electric Hypercar," 14 July 2018 In the kids’ playroom, a fun geometric pendant light by Ladies & Gentleman Studio hangs overhead. — Asad Syrkett, Curbed, "Year in Curbed: The best of House Calls," 26 Dec. 2018 The Ball Drop only looks fun and exciting when watched from the warmth and privacy of your couch. — Condé Nast Traveler, "Six Ways to Spend New Years Eve in New York: An Insider's Guide," 24 Dec. 2018 Right now, those products are primarily fun, but there are many people in tech, including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who believe that augmented reality glasses may be the future of how people communicate and get work done. — Kurt Wagner, Recode, "Snap has a new Spectacles boss, its third in the past six months," 18 Dec. 2018 Ned Yost’s lost fire. Cultivating a swagger that was alternately fun and angry was Yost’s greatest managerial success. — Sam Mellinger, kansascity, "The State of the Royals, Part 1 of 2: How did they get here?," 12 July 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.