fun

[ fuhn ]

noun

1. something that provides mirth or amusement:

   A picnic would be fun.

   Synonyms: gaiety, play, pleasure, merriment

2. enjoyment or playfulness:

   She's full of fun.

   Synonyms: gaiety, play, pleasure, merriment

verb (used with or without object)

, funned, fun·ning,

1. Informal. joke; kid.

adjective

, fun·ner, fun·nest.

1. Informal. of or relating to fun, especially to social fun:

   a fun thing to do; really a fun person; the funnest game.

2. Informal. whimsical; flamboyant:

   The fashions this year are definitely on the fun side.

fun

/ fʌn /

noun

1. a source of enjoyment, amusement, diversion, etc
2. pleasure, gaiety, or merriment
3. jest or sport (esp in the phrases in or for fun )
4. fun and games facetious.
   amusement; frivolous activity
5. like fun informal.
   1. adverb quickly; vigorously
   2. interjection not at all! certainly not!
6. make fun of or poke fun at
   to ridicule or deride
7. modifier full of amusement, diversion, gaiety, etc

   a fun sport

verb

1. informal.
   intr to act in a joking or sporting manner

Word History and Origins

Origin of fun¹

First recorded in 1675–85; dialectal variant of obsolete fon “to befool”; fond ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of fun¹

C17: perhaps from obsolete fon to make a fool of; see fond ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. for / in fun, as a joke; not seriously; playfully:

   His insults were only in fun.

2. like fun, Informal. certainly not; of doubtful truth:

   He told us that he finished the exam in an hour. Like fun he did!

3. make fun of, to make the object of ridicule; deride:

   The youngsters made fun of their teacher.

More idioms and phrases containing fun

In addition to the idiom beginning with fun , also see for fun ; like fun ; make fun of ; more fun than a barrel of monkeys . Also see under funny .

Example Sentences

Before I started shooting, she told me to just have a really good time, have fun and do whatever I need.

From Los Angeles Times

For me, it was fun because I think it’s unexpected, you know what I mean?

From Los Angeles Times

And I think that even though we had this section that’s incredibly chaotic and dark, but also really fun with the stuff that I was getting to do performance-wise, to then sort of gradually let go of that throughout the shoot when we went to Orkney mainland after the London section, that was sort of this period where you’re just plodding along and it felt like myself and the crew mirrored that.

From Los Angeles Times

And I think that would be really fun.

From Los Angeles Times

So I know the impact that that can have on a kid because, at that stage, it’s not your job, it’s not work — it’s fun and it’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• celebration
• distraction
• enjoyment
• joke
• joy
• laughter
• pastime
• pleasure
• sport