laugh

1 of 2

verb

ˈlaf How to pronounce laugh (audio)
ˈläf
laughed; laughing; laughs

intransitive verb

1
a
: to show emotion (such as mirth, joy, or scorn) with a chuckle or explosive vocal sound
The audience was laughing hysterically.
b
: to find amusement or pleasure in something
laughed at his own clumsiness
c
: to become amused or derisive
a very skeptical public laughed at our early effortsGraenum Berger
2
a
: to produce the sound or appearance of laughter
a laughing brook
b
: to be of a kind that inspires joy
the blue sky of Autumn laughs aboveAmy Lowell

transitive verb

1
: to influence or move by laughter
laughed the bad singer off the stage
2
: to utter with a laugh
laughs her consent
laughingly adverb

laugh

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act of laughing
2
a
: a cause for derision or merriment : joke
b
: an expression of scorn or mockery : jeer
3
laughs plural : diversion, sport
play baseball just for laughs

Example Sentences

Verb What are you laughing about? The audience was laughing hysterically. I've never laughed so hard in my life. I couldn't stop laughing when I saw what he was wearing. I laughed out loud when I saw him. He laughed so hard I thought he'd die laughing. The movie was hilarious. We laughed our heads off. “I've never seen anything so ridiculous,” he laughed. Noun He gave a loud laugh. a joke that always gets a big laugh The movie has a lot of laughs. You're going to be a movie star? That's a laugh. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Home Town Takeover star Ben Napier had his Instagram followers laughing out loud after posting an adorable throwback pic. Rebecca Norris, Country Living, 29 May 2023 Turner laughed, smiled and grooved along with Beyoncé. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 25 May 2023 Earlier this year, Healy engaged in behavior some deemed racist, including laughing at and joining in on jokes mocking Ice Spice while appearing as a guest on a podcast. Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 25 May 2023 Ron DeSantis laughs like someone who just became a human yesterday pic.twitter.com/PEsypspoGE — el rad hubbard (@anar_christ) May 14, 2023 There was also the time DeSantis short-circuited in Tokyo when he was asked about his falling poll numbers in the 2024 primary. Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 17 May 2023 Justin Tatum took his own approach with his son before Jayson Tatum dominated the 76ers in Game 7 Being himself means laughing and smiling and revving up a lively crowd. Dan Gelston, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023 But with stand-up, the joke — a couple of sentences to get the audience laughing out loud — is a very specific type of creativity. Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2023 Malti can be seen laughing hysterically and excitedly pointing as cars drive in front of them. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 16 May 2023 Back at Portland’s waterfront, Sydney Waters sat near the Bill Naito fountain, wearing a hat and sunglasses as children laughed in the background. Lisa Moreno, oregonlive, 15 May 2023
Noun
The first two seasons have been a never-ending barrage of heartbreaks and laughs, and the wedding the season has been building up to should be an apt ending to this quietly devastating show. Vulture, 26 May 2023 Even adults are guaranteed a few laughs at this innovative attraction. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2023 The less devoted might find the meta-comedy a tired retread, prompting more eyerolls than laughs. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 May 2023 The trailer already shows you everything that might be remotely funny, including the film’s one big laugh. Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 24 May 2023 Male lead Schwartzman earned laughs as an awkward war photographer grieving his late wife and herding three young daughters and a brainiac son. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 23 May 2023 Her infectious laugh reverberated around the room as some shook their heads in apparent disbelief. Talya Minsberg, New York Times, 13 May 2023 How funny is this daft assault on your laugh reflex? Peter Marks, Washington Post, 15 May 2023 Hostin said abruptly, and Behar responded with a laugh. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 12 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'laugh.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English hliehhan; akin to Old High German lachēn to laugh

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near laugh

Cite this Entry

“Laugh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laugh. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

laugh

1 of 2 verb
ˈlaf How to pronounce laugh (audio)
ˈlȧf
1
a
: to show emotion (as mirth, joy, or scorn) with a chuckle or explosive vocal sound
b
: to become amused
2
: to utter with a laugh
she laughed, "What fun!"
laugher noun

laugh

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act or sound of laughing
2
a
: something funny
that game was a real laugh
b
: something deserving scorn
He's an expert? That's a laugh

More from Merriam-Webster on laugh

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