Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense laughs, present participle laughing, past tense, past participle laughed
1. verb
When you laugh, you make a sound with your throat while smiling and show that you are happy or amused. People also sometimes laugh when they feel nervous or are being unfriendly.
He was about to offer an explanation, but she was beginning to laugh. [VERB]
He laughed with pleasure when people said he looked like his dad. [VERB + with]
The British don't laugh at the same jokes as the French. [VERB + at]
'I'll be astonished if I win on Sunday,' laughed Lyle. [VERB with quote]
Synonyms: chuckle, giggle, snigger, crack up [informal] More Synonyms of laugh
Laugh is also a noun.
Lysenko gave a deep rumbling laugh at his own joke. [+ at]
2. verb
If people laugh at someone or something, they mock them or make jokes about them.
I thought they were laughing at me because I was ugly. [VERB + at]
She wanted to laugh at the melodramatic way he was acting. [VERBat noun]
3.
See for a laugh/for laughs
4.
See get a laugh
5.
See a good laugh/a bit of a laugh
6.
See a good laugh
7.
See have a good laugh about something
8.
See to have the last laugh
9.
See don't make me laugh
10.
See you've got to laugh/you have to laugh
11. to laugh someone out of court
12. to laugh in someone's face
13. to laugh your head off
14. no laughing matter
15. to laugh all the way to the bank
Phrasal verbs:
See laugh off
More Synonyms of laugh
laugh in British English
(lɑːf)
verb
1. (intransitive)
to express or manifest emotion, esp mirth or amusement, typically by expelling air from the lungs in short bursts to produce an inarticulate voiced noise, with the mouth open
2. (intransitive)
(esp of certain mammals or birds) to make a noise resembling a laugh
3. (transitive)
to utter or express with laughter
he laughed his derision at the play
4. (transitive)
to bring or force (someone, esp oneself) into a certain condition by laughter
he laughed himself sick
5. (intransitive; foll byat)
to make fun (of); jeer (at)
6. (intransitive; foll byover)
to read or discuss something with laughter
7. don't make me laugh
8. laugh all the way to the bank
9. laugh in a person's face
10. laugh like a drain
11. laugh up one's sleeve
12. laugh on the other side of one's face
13. be laughing
noun
14.
the act or an instance of laughing
15.
a manner of laughter
16. informal
a person or thing that causes laughter
that holiday was a laugh
17. the last laugh
Derived forms
laugher (ˈlaugher)
noun
laughing (ˈlaughing)
noun, adjective
laughingly (ˈlaughingly)
adverb
Word origin
Old English læhan, hliehhen; related to Gothic hlahjan, Dutch lachen
laugh in American English
(læf; lɑf)
verb intransitive
1.
to make the explosive sounds of the voice, and the characteristic movements of the features and body, that express mirth, amusement, ridicule, etc.
2.
to be amused
3.
to feel or suggest joyousness; appear bright and merry
laughing eyes
verb transitive
4.
to express or say with laughter
5.
to bring about, effect, or cause to be by means of laughter
to laugh oneself hoarse
noun
6.
the act or sound of laughing
7.
anything that provokes or is fit to provoke laughter
8. [pl.]; Informal
mere diversion or pleasure
Idioms:
have the last laugh
laugh at
laugh away
laugh down
laugh up one's sleeve
laugh off
laugh on the other side of one's face
no laughing matter
SYNONYMY NOTE: laugh is the general word for the sounds or exhalation made in expressing mirth, amusement,etc.; , chuckle implies soft laughter in low tones, expressive of mild amusement or inward satisfaction;, giggle, titter both refer to a half-suppressed laugh consisting of a series of rapid, high-pitchedsounds, suggesting embarrassment, silliness, etc., but , titter is also used of a laugh of mild amusement suppressed in affected politeness; , snicker is used of a sly, half-suppressed laugh, as at another's discomfiture or a bawdystory; , guffaw refers to loud, coarse laughter
Derived forms
laugher (ˈlaugher)
noun
Word origin
ME laughen < OE hleahhan, akin to Ger lachen (OHG hlahhan) < IE base *klēg-, to cry out, sound > Gr klangē, L clangor
More idioms containing
laugh
laugh your head off
laugh at someone's expense
have the last laugh
laugh like a drain
laugh all the way to the bank
laugh up your sleeve
laugh out of the other side of your mouth
COBUILD Collocations
laugh
infectious laugh
Examples of 'laugh' in a sentence
laugh
Then you have a laugh about it.
The Sun (2016)
We all had a good laugh when it was sorted out.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Your new love enjoys making people laugh.
The Sun (2017)
We sit together all the time and laugh and joke.
The Sun (2016)
What makes me laugh is that most of them are looking for strikers.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I don't get a laugh.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We wanted people to have a good laugh.
The Sun (2011)
You just laugh and get over it.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The other players were banned from laughing at my jokes!
The Sun (2009)
You can try your hand at six driving challenges devised to make you laugh.
The Sun (2015)
Your new love has a gift for making people laugh.
The Sun (2009)
You could also try laughing at your silly head.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
What is that old saying about he who laughs last?
The Sun (2013)
We sit and have a good laugh and watch a soap opera.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He laughs and jokes and ducks and dives and always gets his way.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We want something for people to laugh at and smile at.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She puts a lot of time and effort into it but she is also a laugh.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It has been reduced to something of a laughing stock.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We had a lot of fun laughing and talking.
The Sun (2013)
We speak about her and laugh together at all the memories.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We just had a good laugh with him.
The Sun (2012)
But we got up and had a good laugh and a joke.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
My reason for being is not working and making people laugh and getting praise and being on a stage.
The Sun (2009)
But the Americans may yet have the last laugh.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But guess who's having the last laugh?
The Sun (2009)
It's the electric motor that stops the diesel drivers having the last laugh at the pumps, too.
The Sun (2013)
Quotations
Laugh and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone; For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, But has enough trouble of its ownElla Wheeler WilcoxSolitude
One can know a man from his laugh, and if you like a man's laugh before you know anything of him, you may confidently say that he isa good manFyodor DostoevskyThe House of the Dead
He who laughs last, laughs longest
In other languages
laugh
British English: laugh /lɑːf/ NOUN
A laugh is the act of making a sound while smiling and showing that you are happy or amused.
He gave a deep, low laugh at his own joke.
American English: laugh
Arabic: ضِحْكَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: risada
Chinese: 笑
Croatian: smijeh
Czech: smích
Danish: latter
Dutch: lach
European Spanish: risa
Finnish: nauru
French: rire
German: Lachen
Greek: γέλιο
Italian: risata
Japanese: 笑い
Korean: 웃음
Norwegian: latter
Polish: śmiech
European Portuguese: risada
Romanian: râs
Russian: смех
Latin American Spanish: risa
Swedish: skratt
Thai: การหัวเราะ
Turkish: gülüş
Ukrainian: сміх
Vietnamese: tiếng cười
British English: laugh /lɑːf/ VERB
When you laugh, you smile and make a sound because something is funny.
The boys all laughed at his joke.
American English: laugh
Arabic: يَضْحَكُ
Brazilian Portuguese: rir
Chinese: 笑
Croatian: smijati se
Czech: smát se
Danish: le
Dutch: lachen
European Spanish: reír
Finnish: nauraa
French: rire
German: lachen
Greek: γελάω
Italian: ridere
Japanese: 笑う
Korean: 웃다
Norwegian: le
Polish: wyśmiewać się
European Portuguese: rir
Romanian: a râde
Russian: смеяться
Latin American Spanish: reír
Swedish: skratta
Thai: หัวเราะ
Turkish: kahkahayla gülmek
Ukrainian: сміятися
Vietnamese: cười
All related terms of 'laugh'
laugh at
to be amused by
laugh off
If you laugh off a difficult or serious situation, you try to suggest that it is amusing and unimportant , for example by making a joke about it.
belly laugh
A belly laugh is a very loud, deep laugh.
horse laugh
a coarse, mocking , or raucous laugh ; guffaw
laugh away
to dismiss or dispel (something unpleasant ) by laughter
laugh down
to silence by laughing contemptuously
laugh lines
Laugh lines are wrinkles which some older people have at the outside corners of their eyes .
laugh track
laughter which is pre-recorded and then added to a radio or TV show to be played when it is aired
a good laugh
If you describe someone as a laugh or a good laugh , you like them because they are amusing and fun to be with.
infectious laugh
When you laugh , you make a sound with your throat while smiling and show that you are happy or amused . People also sometimes laugh when they feel nervous or are being unfriendly .
the last laugh
the final success in an argument , situation, etc, after previous defeat
laugh like a drain
to laugh a lot
don't make me laugh
Some people reply to other people's comments or opinions by saying ' Don't make me laugh ' when they disagree with them and think they are foolish or inaccurate .
have the last laugh
to make your critics or opponents look foolish or wrong , by becoming successful when they said that you would fail
laugh one's head off
Phrases such as laugh your head off and scream your head off can be used to emphasize that someone is laughing or screaming a lot or very loudly.
laugh up one's sleeve
to laugh or have grounds for amusement , self-satisfaction, etc, secretly
laugh up your sleeve
to be secretly amused by something, for example because someone has done something very badly , or because you know something that nobody else knows. This expression is usually used to show disapproval .
laugh your head off
to laugh or shout a great deal
for a laugh/for laughs
If you do something for a laugh or for laughs , you do it as a joke or for fun .
to have the last laugh
If you say that you have the last laugh , you mean that you become successful at something so that people who criticize or oppose you look foolish .
to laugh your head off
Phrases such as laugh your head off and scream your head off can be used to emphasize that someone is laughing or screaming a lot or very loudly.
get a laugh to raise a laugh
If a person or their comment gets a laugh or raises a laugh , they make the people listening to them laugh.
a good laugh/a bit of a laugh
If you describe a situation as a laugh , a good laugh , or a bit of a laugh , you think that it is fun and do not take it too seriously .
laugh at someone's expense
to make someone seem foolish by laughing at them
laugh in a person's face
to show open contempt or defiance towards a person
to laugh in someone's face
If someone laughs in your face , they are openly disrespectful towards you.
to laugh someone out of court
If you laugh someone out of court , you say that their opinions or ideas are so ridiculous that they are not worth considering.
have a good laugh about something
If you have a good laugh about something, you find it amusing and realize that it is funny , especially when the situation was at first upsetting .
laugh all the way to the bank
to make a lot of money very easily or very quickly
you've got to laugh/you have to laugh
If you say ' you've got to laugh ' or ' you have to laugh ', you are trying to see the amusing side of a difficult or disappointing situation rather than being sad or angry about it.
to laugh all the way to the bank
If you say that someone is laughing all the way to the bank , you mean that they are making a lot of money very easily .
laugh on the other side of one's face
to show sudden disappointment or shame after appearing cheerful or confident
laugh out of the other side of your mouth
said to warn someone that although they are happy or successful at the moment , things are likely to go wrong for them in the future. The British expression is laugh on the other side of your face .
Chinese translation of 'laugh'
laugh
(lɑːf)
n(c)
笑 (xiào) (阵(陣), zhèn)
vi
笑 (xiào)
to give a laugh发(發)笑 (fāxiào)
to do sth for a laugh or for laughs做某事取乐(樂) (zuò mǒushì qǔlè)
to have the last laugh取得最后(後)胜(勝)利 (qǔdé zuìhòu shènglì)
to express amusement or happiness by producing a series of inarticulate sounds
He laughed with pleasure when people said he looked like his Dad.
Synonyms
chuckle
He chuckled appreciatively at her riposte.
giggle
Both girls began to giggle.
snigger
The students sniggered at their teacher's embarrassing story.
crack up (informal)
We all just cracked up when he told us.
cackle
The woman cackled with glee.
chortle
He began chortling heartily.
guffaw
He stood guffawing at his boss's jokes.
titter
Mention sex therapy and most people will titter with embarrassment.
roar
He threw back his head and roared.
bust a gut (informal)
be convulsed (informal)
be in stitches
crease up (informal)
split your sides
be rolling in the aisles (informal)
L (textmessaging)
1 (noun)
Definition
the act or an instance of laughing
She gave a throaty laugh at her own joke.
Synonyms
chortle
The man broke into a wheezy chortle of amusement.
giggle
She gave a little giggle.
chuckle
She gave a soft chuckle and said, ‘No chance’.
snigger
trying to suppress a snigger
guffaw
He burst into a loud guffaw.
titter
belly laugh
roar
There were roars of laughter as he stood up.
shriek
2 (noun)
Definition
a person or thing that causes laughter
(informal)
Working there's great. It's quite a good laugh actually.
Synonyms
joke
It was probably just a joke to them, but it wasn't funny to me.
scream (informal)
hoot (informal)
Jana's a hoot, a real character.
lark
The children thought it was a great lark.
prank
a stupid schoolboy prank
L (textmessaging)
3 (noun)
Definition
a person or thing that causes laughter
(informal)
He was a good laugh and great to have in the dressing room.
Synonyms
clown
He gained a reputation as the class clown.
character (informal)
scream (informal)
He's a scream, isn't he?
comic
At that time he was still a penniless, unknown comic.
caution (informal)
wit
a man who fancied himself as a great wit
comedian
After a career as a comedian, he turned to serious drama.
entertainer
card (informal)
wag
My dad's always been a bit of a wag.
joker
He is, by nature, a joker, a witty man with a sense of fun.
hoot (informal)
humorist
a political humorist
L (textmessaging)
Phrasal verbs
See laugh at something or someone
See laugh something off
Quotations
Laugh and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone; For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, But has enough trouble of its own [Ella Wheeler Wilcox – Solitude]One can know a man from his laugh, and if you like a man's laugh before you know anything of him, you may confidently say that he is a good man [Fyodor Dostoevsky – The House of the Dead]
proverb
He who laughs last, laughs longest
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cackle
Definition
to laugh shrilly
The woman cackled with glee.
Synonyms
laugh,
giggle,
chuckle
in the sense of comedian
Definition
a person who performs in comedy
After a career as a comedian, he turned to serious drama.
Synonyms
comic,
laugh (informal),
wit,
clown,
funny man,
humorist,
wag,
joker,
jester,
dag (New Zealand, informal),
card (informal),
joculator or (fem.) joculatrix
in the sense of comic
Definition
a comedian
At that time he was still a penniless, unknown comic.
Synonyms
comedian,
funny man,
humorist,
wit,
clown,
wag,
jester,
dag (New Zealand, informal),
buffoon,
joculator or (fem.) joculatrix
Synonyms of 'laugh'
laugh
Explore 'laugh' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of crack up
Definition
to have a physical or mental breakdown
We all just cracked up when he told us.
Synonyms
burst out laughing,
laugh,
fall about (laughing),
guffaw,
roar with laughter,
be in stitches,
split your sides
in the sense of giggle
Definition
to laugh nervously or foolishly
Both girls began to giggle.
Synonyms
laugh,
chuckle,
snigger,
chortle,
titter,
twitter,
tee-hee,
GGG,
GGL
in the sense of giggle
Definition
a nervous or foolish laugh
She gave a little giggle.
Synonyms
laugh,
chuckle,
snigger,
chortle,
titter,
twitter,
GGG,
GGL
in the sense of guffaw
Definition
to laugh loudly and raucously
He stood guffawing at his boss's jokes.
Synonyms
laugh,
roar with laughter,
bellow with laughter
in the sense of guffaw
Definition
a loud raucous laugh
He burst into a loud guffaw.
Synonyms
laugh,
roar of laughter,
bellow of laughter
in the sense of hoot
Definition
an amusing person or thing
Jana's a hoot, a real character.
Synonyms
laugh (informal),
scream (informal),
caution (informal),
card (informal)
in the sense of humorist
Definition
a person who speaks or writes in a humorous way
a political humorist
Synonyms
comedian,
comic,
wit,
eccentric,
wag,
joker,
card (informal),
jester,
dag (New Zealand, informal),
funny man,
joculator or (fem.) joculatrix
in the sense of joker
Definition
a person who jokes a lot
He is, by nature, a joker, a witty man with a sense of fun.
Synonyms
comedian,
comic,
wit,
clown,
wag,
kidder (informal),
jester,
dag (New Zealand, informal),
prankster,
buffoon,
trickster,
humorist
in the sense of lark
Definition
a harmless piece of mischief
The children thought it was a great lark.
Synonyms
prank,
game,
fun,
fling,
romp,
spree,
revel,
mischief,
caper,
frolic,
escapade,
skylark,
gambol,
antic,
jape,
rollick
in the sense of prank
Definition
a mischievous trick
a stupid schoolboy prank
Synonyms
trick,
lark (informal),
caper,
frolic,
escapade,
practical joke,
skylarking (informal),
antic,
jape
Additional synonyms
in the sense of roar
He threw back his head and roared.
Synonyms
guffaw,
laugh heartily,
hoot,
double up,
crack up (informal),
bust a gut (informal),
split your sides (informal)
in the sense of roar
There were roars of laughter as he stood up.
Synonyms
guffaw,
gale (informal),
howl,
shriek,
hoot,
belly laugh (informal)
in the sense of scream
Definition
a very funny person or thing
He's a scream, isn't he?
Synonyms
laugh (informal),
card (informal),
riot (slang),
comic,
character (informal),
caution (informal),
sensation,
wit,
comedian,
entertainer,
wag,
joker,
hoot (informal),
dag (New Zealand, informal)
in the sense of snigger
The students sniggered at their teacher's embarrassing story.
Synonyms
laugh,
giggle,
sneer,
snicker,
titter
in the sense of snigger
Definition
a quiet and disrespectful laugh kept to oneself
trying to suppress a snigger
Synonyms
laugh,
giggle,
sneer,
snicker,
titter
in the sense of titter
Definition
to snigger, esp. derisively or in a suppressed way
Mention sex therapy and most people will titter with embarrassment.