laughverb [ I ]
uk/lɑːf/us/læf/A2 to smile while making sounds with your voice that show you think something is funny or you are happy:
They laughed at her jokes.
I couldn't stop laughing.
I said he'd have to give a talk and he laughed nervously.
She's so funny - she really makes me laugh.
It's very rare that a book is so good you actually laugh out loud.
It was so funny, I burst out laughing (= laughed suddenly and loudly).
I laughed till I cried.
More examples
- Please don't laugh - I'm being serious.
- I could see Emma trying not to laugh and of course that started me off.
- They joked and laughed as they looked at the photos.
- The audience was still laughing as the curtain fell.
- When he laughs he sounds like a horse neighing.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Laughing and smiling
- amused
- be all smiles idiom
- be in convulsions idiom
- be rolling in the aisles idiom
- be wreathed in smiles idiom
- bust
- gale
- gales of laughter idiom
- giggle
- giggler
- giggly
- grin
- quake
- say cheese idiom
- simper
- smile
- smiley
- smiling
- smilingly
- stitch
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Idiom(s)
be laughed out of court
be laughing
be laughing all the way to the bank
be laughing on the other side of your face
be no laughing matter
don't make me laugh!
he who laughs last, laughs longest/best
laugh your head off
laugh in sb's face
laugh like a drain
laugh up your sleeve
you've got to laugh
Phrasal verb(s)
laugh at sb/sth
laugh sth off
laughnoun [ C ]
uk/lɑːf/us/læf/B1 the act or sound of laughing:
a loud/nervous laugh
I was embarrassed at the time, but I had a good laugh about it later.
informal an enjoyable or funny activity:
"How was the party?" "Oh, it was a laugh."
mainly UK informal someone who is funny:
You'd like Sharon - she's a good laugh.
More examples
- She reacted to his compliments with a deprecating laugh.
- He's got a really annoying laugh.
- The announcement raised a laugh.
- He turned away with a rueful laugh.
- She gave a loud uninhibited laugh.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Laughing and smiling
- amused
- be all smiles idiom
- be in convulsions idiom
- be rolling in the aisles idiom
- be wreathed in smiles idiom
- bust
- gale
- gales of laughter idiom
- giggle
- giggler
- giggly
- grin
- quake
- say cheese idiom
- simper
- smile
- smiley
- smiling
- smilingly
- stitch
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
General words for fun
Humour & humorous
Idiom(s)
for a laugh
you're having a laugh