hilarioushi‧lar‧i‧ous /hɪˈleəriəs $ -ˈler-/ ●○○ adjective 
Word Origin
a hilarious story► see thesaurus at funny—hilariously adverbGRAMMARHilarious is not used with ‘very’. You say: · The film was absolutely hilarious. ✗Don’t say: The film was very hilarious.Grammar guide ‒ ADJECTIVES
Word OriginWORD ORIGINhilarious
ExamplesOrigin:
1800-1900 Latin hilarus ‘cheerful’, from Greek hilarosEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- Our attempts at dancing were hilarious - we all kept tripping over each other.
- the hilarious BBC comedy series 'Absolutely Fabulous'
- You should read this book - it's hilarious.
- And Tim I thought the sausage eaters stuff was hilarious.
- But she can be forgiven because this, too, is hilarious.
- The Aboriginal rebellion is as tragic as life aboard the Sincerity is hilarious.
- There are some hilarious and touching stories along the way.
- They seemed to think this was hilarious.
THESAURUS► funny
extremely funny: making you laugh: · John told me a really funny joke.· She’s very talented and funny.
► amusing especially written funny and enjoyable. Amusing is more formal than funny. It is often used when something is a little funny and makes you smile, rather than laugh: · an amusing anecdote· He found the whole incident rather amusing.
► humorous intended to be funny – used about stories, films, articles etc that have situations that are a little funny: · humorous stories· The movie is meant to be humorous.
► witty using words in a funny and clever way: · witty remarks· How witty!
► hilarious (also hysterical informal) extremely funny: · The children thought it was hilarious.· The movie has some hilarious scenes.· It was hysterical! You should have seen his face!
► comical funny in a strange or silly way – often used when something is not intended to be funny: · It was quite comical watching him trying to dance.· her own comical attempts at painting
► comic [only before noun] a comic film, play, novel etc is intended to be funny: · a comic drama
► light-hearted done for amusement or enjoyment, and not intended to be serious: · The programme is a light-hearted look at recent political events.
► comedy noun [countable] a film, play, or television programme that is intended to be funny: · a comedy by Shakespeare· She has appeared in several television comedies.· a new comedy series on Channel 4
Longman Language Activatorwhen something or someone makes you laugh► funny something or someone that is funny makes you laugh: · It was the funniest story I'd ever heard.· He can be pretty funny when he's had a few drinks.· The goat was chasing Mark round and round the field - it was so funny.look funny: · You look really funny in that hat.hilariously/hysterically funny: · Did you like 'Notting Hill'? I thought it was hilariously funny.
► make somebody laugh to make someone laugh, for example by telling a joke or doing something funny: · I must tell Jerry what you said - it'll make him laugh.· Charlie Chaplin was a great actor with a wonderful ability to make people laugh.· It always makes me laugh when you look at me like that.
► amusing especially written funny and entertaining enough to make you smile: · I like a newspaper with one or two amusing articles, as well as all the serious stuff.· He was a really special person, gentle and amusing at the same time.find something/somebody amusing: · Mrs Denton didn't find it amusing when I spilt all the paint on the floor. highly amusing: · My mother was embarrassed, but I found the situation highly amusing.
► humorous intended to be amusing - use this especially about stories, descriptions, songs, and other things that people write: · The book is a humorous account of a young man's travels in South America.· It was a brilliant speech - clear, precise and humorous.· humorous birthday cards
► witty using words in a clever and amusing way: · Sam is intelligent, witty, and great fun to be with.· I enjoyed the play - it had a clever plot and a very witty script.
► hilarious extremely funny - use this about situations, jokes, and stories, but not about people: · Our attempts at dancing were hilarious - we all kept tripping over each other.· the hilarious BBC comedy series 'Absolutely Fabulous'
► comical especially written funny in a strange or unexpected way, although not always intended to be: · Carlo looked so comical, striding along in a coat which nearly touched the ground.· The puffin is an unusual sea bird, and there is something almost comical about the way it moves and looks.· Lizzie, bouncing along on the donkey, made a comical sight.
► light-hearted funny in a gentle way, and often about a subject that is usually serious: · We always try to keep our newsletter light-hearted, so that people will enjoy it.· The light-hearted way in which the author has approached this book should take some of the hard work out of trying to lose weight.take a light-hearted look at something: · The film takes a light-hearted look at life in prison.
► be a laugh informal if a person or activity is a laugh , they are amusing and give you a lot of fun: · There were about 100 people there and it was a laugh from beginning to end .a real laugh spoken: · Wait until you meet Tony. He's a real laugh.be a laugh a minute (=be very amusing ): · We all had to sleep in one tent and it was a laugh a minute.
► be a hoot informal if a person, situation, performance, film etc is a hoot , they are very funny and enjoyable: · The movie has a script that is smartly funny, and Hugh Grant is a hoot!· At the end of the day, there was the moms' soccer match, which was a hoot!
a hilarious story► see thesaurus at funny—hilariously adverbGRAMMARHilarious is not used with ‘very’. You say: · The film was absolutely hilarious. ✗Don’t say: The film was very hilarious.Grammar guide ‒ ADJECTIVES