bemused

[ bih-myoozd ]

adjective

1. bewildered or confused:

   a bemused expression on his face.

2. lost in thought; preoccupied.
3. mildly amused, especially in a detached way.

bemused

/ bɪˈmjuːzd; bɪˈmjuːzɪdlɪ /

adjective

1. preoccupied; lost in thought

Confusables Note

See bemuse.

Derived Forms

• bemusedly, adverb

Other Words From

• be·mus·ed·ly [bih-, myoo, -zid-lee], adverb
• unbe·mused adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bemused¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; bemuse + -ed ²

Example Sentences

I departed, along with other bemused reporters, taking with us any lingering doubts that this would prove to be yet another dead-end in the quest to unmask Satoshi.

From BBC

“Which was really weird, and very anti-democratic,” Flores said with a bemused look.

From Los Angeles Times

With her steady confidence and bemused attitude, Harris countered Trump’s spectacle of death with a spectacle of life.

From Slate

A bemused Madelene Sagstrom looked on in bewilderment as she tried to prepare to hit her shot to the green.

From BBC

"It's easy to say I'm angry, that's everyone's first and obvious response, but I am baffled and bemused," said Mr Gibson, from Cottenham, Cambridgeshire.

From BBC

Related Words

• befuddled
• bewildered
• dazed
• perplexed
• puzzled