hilarity

noun

hi·​lar·​i·​ty hi-ˈler-ə-tē How to pronounce hilarity (audio)
hī-
: boisterous merriment or laughter

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
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.
Director Scott Ellis keeps things light, bouncy, and maximizes the hilarity. Christian Lewis, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025 The hilarity of the script isn’t just built from belly laughs, of which there are plenty, but also crafted with coping with the fear that comes from one’s identity. David John Chávez, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025 The hilarity of that moment embodies the great work Dreyfuss did throughout the entire shoot. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025 People compare this show to Game Of Thrones, but that show (and the books) was filled with all kinds of hilarity. Erik Kain, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for hilarity

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hilarity was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Hilarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hilarity. Accessed 14 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

hilarity

noun
hi·​lar·​i·​ty hil-ˈar-ət-ē How to pronounce hilarity (audio)
-ˈer-;
hī-ˈlar-,
-ˈler-
: noisy fun

More from Merriam-Webster on hilarity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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