laugh

[ laf ]

verb (used without object)

1. to express mirth, pleasure, derision, or nervousness with an audible, vocal expulsion of air from the lungs that can range from a loud burst of sound to a series of quiet chuckles and is usually accompanied by characteristic facial and bodily movements.

   Synonyms: titter, snigger, snicker, giggle, roar, guffaw, cachinnate, cackle, chortle

2. to experience the emotion so expressed:

   He laughed inwardly at the scene.

3. to produce a sound resembling human laughter:

   A coyote laughed in the dark.

verb (used with object)

1. to drive, put, bring, etc., by or with laughter (often followed by out, away, down, etc.):

   They laughed him out of town. We laughed away our troubles.

2. to utter with laughter:

   He laughed his consent.

noun

1. the act or sound of laughing; laughter.
2. an expression of mirth, derision, etc., by laughing.
3. Informal. something that provokes laughter, amusement, or ridicule:

   After all the advance publicity, the prizefight turned out to be a laugh.

4. laughs, Informal. fun; amusement.

verb phrase

1. 1. to make fun of; deride; ridicule:

      They were laughing at him, not along with him.

   2. to be scornful of; reject:

      They stopped laughing at the unusual theory when it was found to be predictive.

   3. to find sympathetic amusement in; regard with humor:

      We can learn to laugh a little at even our most serious foibles.

2. to dismiss as ridiculous, trivial, or hollow:

   He had received threats but laughed them off as the work of a crank.

laugh

/ lɑːf /

verb

1. intr 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. intr (esp of certain mammals or birds) to make a noise resembling a laugh
3. tr to utter or express with laughter

   he laughed his derision at the play

4. tr to bring or force (someone, esp oneself) into a certain condition by laughter

   he laughed himself sick

5. intrfoll byat to make fun (of); jeer (at)
6. intrfoll byover to read or discuss something with laughter
7. don't make me laugh informal.
   I don't believe you for a moment
8. laugh all the way to the bank informal.
   to be unashamedly pleased at making a lot of money
9. laugh in a person's face
   to show open contempt or defiance towards a person
10. laugh like a drain informal.
    to laugh loudly and coarsely
11. laugh up one's sleeve
    to laugh or have grounds for amusement, self-satisfaction, etc, secretly
12. laugh on the other side of one's face
    to show sudden disappointment or shame after appearing cheerful or confident
13. be laughing informal.
    to be in a favourable situation

noun

1. the act or an instance of laughing
2. a manner of laughter
3. informal.
   a person or thing that causes laughter

   that holiday was a laugh

4. the last laugh
   the final success in an argument, situation, etc, after previous defeat

Derived Forms

• ˈlaughing, nounadjective
• ˈlaugher, noun
• ˈlaughingly, adverb

Other Words From

• out·laugh verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of laugh¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English laughen, Old English hlæh(h)an (Anglian); cognate with Dutch, German lachen, Old Norse hlǣja, Gothic hlahjan

Word History and Origins

Origin of laugh¹

Old English læhan, hliehhen; related to Gothic hlahjan, Dutch lachen

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. have the last laugh, to prove ultimately successful after a seeming defeat or loss:

   She smiled slyly, because she knew she would yet have the last laugh on them.

2. laugh it up, to laugh or joke in a hearty way:

   He was laughing it up with his friends.

3. laugh out of court, to dismiss or depreciate by means of ridicule; totally scorn:

   His violent protests were laughed out of court by the others.

4. laugh out of the other side of one's mouth, to undergo a chastening reversal, as of glee or satisfaction that is premature; be ultimately chagrined, punished, etc.; cry: Also laugh on the wrong side of one's mouthface.

   She's proud of her promotion, but she'll laugh out of the other side of her mouth when the work piles up.

5. laugh up one's sleeve. sleeve ( def 9 ).

More idioms and phrases containing laugh

• canned laughter
• die laughing
• it's to laugh
• last laugh
• no joke (laughing matter)
• shake with laughter

Synonym Study

Laugh, chuckle, grin, smile refer to methods of expressing mirth, appreciation of humor, etc. A laugh may be a sudden, voiceless exhalation, but is usually an audible sound, either soft or loud: a hearty laugh. Chuckle suggests a barely audible series of sounds expressing private amusement or satisfaction: a delighted chuckle. A smile is a (usually pleasant) lighting up of the face and an upward curving of the corners of the lips (which may or may not be open); it may express amusement or mere recognition, friendliness, etc.: a courteous smile. A grin, in which the teeth are usually visible, is like an exaggerated smile, less controlled in expressing the feelings: a friendly grin.

Example Sentences

And even if they saw Trump’s deceptions for what they were, Matthews said, those inclined to support the GOP nominee — out of concern for inflation, border security or because they didn’t like Harris’ policies or her laugh — found plenty of reasons to excuse his hyperbole and outright lies.

From Los Angeles Times

See the most read stories this hour » In person she has a big, Texas-girl laugh and an agreeable manner, yet Margo Martindale’s splashiest roles, Emmy-winners like backwoods crime boss Mags on TV’s “Justified” and the ex- KGB supervisor Claudia on “The Americans,” are shiveringly sinister.

From Los Angeles Times

“We were texting on a group thread,” Cortes said with a bitter laugh.

From Los Angeles Times

We can always use reasons to laugh, but the stories that remind us of our humanity and worth at any age have higher value – especially now.

From Salon

In September, his preprint received an Ig Nobel Prize, a satirical award that promotes research that “makes people laugh, then think.”

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• laughter