: gladness or gaiety as shown by or accompanied with laughter
His clumsy attempt at dancing caused much mirth.
mirthful adjective
mirthfully adverb
mirthfulness noun

Examples of mirth in a Sentence

Her clumsy attempt to cut the cake was the cause of much mirth. as charming as your mutual mirth is, could you refrain from nudging each other and giggling during class?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Expect merriment, mirth and …*checks notes*… Fulham to be fifth by Christmas? Phil Hay, The Athletic, 14 Aug. 2024 While that occasion caused much mirth, neighbors in Washington were not pleased with the mass of masked marauders. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 10 Oct. 2024 Sometimes, though, Harris’s various shades of mirth simply add ironic merriment to proceedings that otherwise slog along. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2024 A lot of mirth comes from unexpectedly vulgar words erupting from ordinary dialogue or sweet melodies. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mirth 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English myrgth, from myrge merry — more at merry

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mirth was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near mirth

Cite this Entry

“Mirth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mirth. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

mirth

noun
: gaiety accompanied by laughter

More from Merriam-Webster on mirth

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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