amusea‧muse /əˈmjuːz/ ●●○ verb [transitive] 
He made funny faces to amuse the children. The question seemed to amuse him in some way.it amuses somebody that/how/to do It amused me to think back to my life in London.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say they think something is funny rather than say that it amuses them: The joke really amused them. ➔ They thought the joke was really funny.2to make time pass in an enjoyable way for someone, so that they do not get bored SYN entertain: Doing jigsaws would amuse Amy for hours on end. The kids amused themselves playing hide-and-seek.
WORD ORIGINamuse
Origin:
1400-1500 Old French amuser, from muser; ➔ MUSE1VERB TABLE
amuse
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | amuse |
| he, she, it | amuses | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | amused |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have amused |
| he, she, it | has amused | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had amused |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will amuse |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have amused |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am amusing |
| he, she, it | is amusing | |
| you, we, they | are amusing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was amusing |
| you, we, they | were amusing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been amusing |
| he, she, it | has been amusing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been amusing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be amusing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been amusing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Adams first began drawing cartoons to amuse his coworkers.
- It amuses me to see politicians so eager to please at election time.
- Most ski resorts offer activities to amuse children and even non-skiers.
- Something in the report had obviously amused him.
- In college she had liked his clipping service; now she seemed only amused by it.
- Peering through steel-rimmed spectacles were chilly gray eyes that found little to be amused by.
- She could go two days without sleep and was amused by the test she was undergoing.
Longman Language Activatorto make someone laugh
· Rachel used to make us all laugh by imitating the teacher.· Thanks for your letter. It really made me laugh.
informal to be very funny and to make people laugh a lot: · Mr Bean really cracks me up. He's so funny.
to succeed in making people laugh, especially when they do not really feel like laughing: · None of my carefully-prepared jokes managed to raise a laugh.
also have somebody in fits British to make someone laugh uncontrollably: · Roger had us in hysterics with his account of his disastrous trip to Italy.· The cast included Paul Shane, whose quick wit had the audience in stitches.
if something amuses someone, it makes them laugh or smile because it is fairly funny: · Something in the report had obviously amused him.it amuses somebody to see/think something: · It amuses me to see politicians so eager to please at election time.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The kids amused themselves playing hide-and-seek.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES some toys to keep the kids amusedCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
1to make someone laugh or smile: The kids amused themselves playing hide-and-seek. some toys to keep the kids amused· It always amuses me when Liberal Democrats accuse me of having a ministerial career.· He was nearly always amusing, never boring.
· They found the whole episode highly amusing.· I was highly amused to see that his great mind had overlooked one little detail.· It remains highly amusing to us.
· He seems very amused by the subterfuge.· I was very amused at this, and insisted on showing the manager what it was.· She also had the powerful sense of humour which her children inherited, and could be very amusing in conversation.· There's also a very amusing incident with a kebab.· On another day he might have found it all very amusing.
NOUN· While they're waiting, there are puzzles, games and stories to keep them amused.
VERB· His numerous critics will find plenty to amuse them in this volume.· Tom found the tomb vastly amusing.· And he found the realization somewhat amusing, now that he was alone again.· On another day he might have found it all very amusing.· Not everyone has found this so amusing.
· This is an ideal set of programs to introduce your children to computers and will keep them amused for months.· I knew that keeping Jasper amused, making him happy, and keeping myself deserving of him, was my one achievement.· Signs exist to make driving safer, not to keep the regional council amused.· On the other hand, it keeps us amused, so what the hell?· If you fancy a break from sunbathing, the slot pool and table tennis are sure to keep you amused.· But for those who take the plunge there is plenty to keep them amused, particularly if they play bowls or golf.· Seven lifts would keep me amused for about two hours.· They carry your luggage and your provisions; they will even keep you amused along the way by pulling faces.
· He seems very amused by the subterfuge.· For some reason, John Langford tolerated him; even seemed to be amused by him.· It seemed to amuse the studio crew.· But in dozens of interviews he has perfected his eccentric act, which seems to amuse him.· Alexei did not understand why Jotan seemed to be amused by the notion, and so he said nothing.· Tony seemed amused as he took a bite of pot roast and scanned the room.· His answer seemed to amuse them.· That night in 1974, he seemed amused by the way I spoke.
· I could not tell whether she was smiling because the book amused her or because it was so badly written.
· In trying to amuse children and grown-ups, it contains scenes which will displease both.· Many princes and rich men try in vain to amuse her.
He made funny faces to amuse the children. The question seemed to amuse him in some way.it amuses somebody that/how/to do It amused me to think back to my life in London.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say they think something is funny rather than say that it amuses them: The joke really amused them. ➔ They thought the joke was really funny.2to make time pass in an enjoyable way for someone, so that they do not get bored SYN entertain: Doing jigsaws would amuse Amy for hours on end. The kids amused themselves playing hide-and-seek.