hilarity

noun

hi·​lar·​i·​ty hi-ˈler-ə-tē 

hī-

: boisterous merriment or laughter

Synonyms

• cheer
• cheerfulness
• cheeriness
• festivity
• gaiety
• gayety
• gayness
• glee
• gleefulness
• jocundity
• joviality
• merriment
• merriness
• mirth
• mirthfulness

Examples of hilarity in a Sentence

My attempt to carve the turkey was a source of great hilarity at the dinner table.

hilarity is the last thing you expect to find at a funeral, but we were there to celebrate his life rather than to dwell on his death

Recent Examples on the Web

But the episode truly crosses the line into hilarity when Chandler responds both by mocking him and telling him to shut up. —Jenny Porter Tilley, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Aug. 2024

The hilarity of Wick throwing his out-of-bullets gun at an attacker; Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard’s delightfully eclectic electronic score; the gang’s-all-here exuberance of Donnie Yen and Shamier Anderson joining the brawl alongside Reeves. —Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024

Tremors of that angry hilarity could be detected on Thursday evening, July 18th, as the R.N.C. approached its dénouement. —Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 25 July 2024

Pushing someone down the stairs is the height of hilarity. —David Gilbert, The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hilarity

noun

hi·​lar·​i·​ty hil-ˈar-ət-ē 

-ˈer-;

hī-ˈlar-,

-ˈler-

: noisy fun