fun

1 of 3

noun

1
: what provides amusement or enjoyment
specifically : playful often boisterous action or speech
full of fun
2
: a mood for finding or making amusement
all in fun
3
a
: amusement, enjoyment
sickness takes all the fun out of life
play games for fun
b
: derisive jest : sport, ridicule
a figure of fun
They made fun of the way he talked.
4
: violent or excited activity or argument
Insults were exchanged and then the fun began.

fun

2 of 3

verb

funned; funning

intransitive verb

: to indulge in banter or play : joke

fun

3 of 3

adjective

sometimes funner; sometimes funnest
1
: providing entertainment, amusement, or enjoyment
a fun party
a fun person to be with
2
: full of fun : pleasant
have a fun time

Frequently Asked Questions

Is funner a word?

Yes, funner is a word, in spite of the fact that many people either wish it were not or believe that it isn’t. The comparative form of the adjective fun (meaning "more fun") has demonstrated widespread use over many decades and in a wide variety of published writing.

Is funnest a word?

Yes, funnest is a word, in spite of those that wish it were not. The superlative form of the adjective fun (meaning "most fun") has demonstrated widespread use over many decades, in a wide variety of published writing.

Is there a plural of fun?

Fun commonly functions as an adjective ("I had a fun time") and as a noun ("Let’s have some fun"), and somewhat less commonly as a verb ("I’m just funning you"). In its role as a noun the word is a noncount noun ("a noun that denotes a homogeneous substance or a concept without subdivisions and that in English is preceded in indefinite singular constructions by some rather than a or an"), and does not have a plural form.

Choose the Right Synonym for fun

fun, jest, sport, game, play mean action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter.

fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

Examples of fun in a Sentence

Noun I can't remember when I've had so much fun. Sickness takes all the fun out of life. Verb He's just funning with you. just a couple of old friends funning with each other Adjective Our vacation was a fun time. She's a fun person to be with. The park is a fun place to visit. We had a fun time at the movie.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The fun and creativity and originality and senses of excellence and humor are leaving our games. Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024 And scientists are inviting the public to join in the fun by helping to gather the sights and sounds of unusual animal behavior. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fun 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fun.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Adjective

English dialect fun to hoax, perhaps alteration of Middle English fonnen, from fonne dupe

First Known Use

Noun

1726, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1802, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fun was in 1726

Dictionary Entries Near fun

Cite this Entry

“Fun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fun. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fun

1 of 3 noun
1
: someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment
the twins were fun to have around
picnics are great fun
2
: a good time : amusement, enjoyment
have fun
plays cards just for fun
3
: words or actions that make someone or something an object of unkind laughter
kids making fun of me

fun

2 of 3 verb
funned; funning
: to engage in joking or play
I was only funning

fun

3 of 3 adjective
1
: providing fun
a fun party
a fun person
2
: full of fun : pleasant sense 1
have a fun time

More from Merriam-Webster on fun

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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