1
[ verb ] occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion

Synonyms

divert disport

Examples

"The play amused the ladies"

Used in print

(J. H. Hexter, "Thomas More: On the Margins...)

Some who have written on Utopia have treated it as `` a learned diversion of a learned world '' , `` a phantasy with which More amused himself '' , `` a holiday work , a spontaneous overflow of intellectual high_spirits , a revel of debate , paradox , comedy and invention '' .

(Guy Endore, Voltaire! Voltaire!...)

But then one day , while on a week 's visit to the country home of a retired Swiss jeweler , Rousseau amused the company with a_few little melodies he had written , to which he attached no great importance .

(Frieda Arkin, "The Light of the Sea," in The...)

`` I am afraid there is not much to amuse small children here .

Related terms

entertain diversion

2
[ verb ] make (somebody) laugh

Examples

"The clown amused the children"

Used in print

(Gerald Green, The Heartless Light....)

The night before , they had telephoned the Andrus_maid , Selena_Masters , and she had arrived early , bursting her vigorous presence into the silent house with an assurance that amused McFeeley and confounded Moll .

Related terms

cheer convulse amusement

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