Laugh — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈlaf/

Meaning & Definition of Laugh

Laugh (verb)

  1. to show emotion (such as mirth, joy, or scorn) with a chuckle or explosive vocal sound
  2. to find amusement or pleasure in something
  3. to become amused or derisive

Laugh (noun)

  1. the act of laughing
  2. a cause for derision or merriment, joke
  3. an expression of scorn or mockery, jeer

Laugh (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound

    "everyone laughed when the clown dramatically slipped and fell"

    similar: break up, cackle, chortle, chuckle, crack up, giggle, hee-haw, roar, scream, snicker, titter, twitter, split one's sides
    related: grin, smile
    near: bawl, blubber, cry, sob, weep, howl, squall, wail, yowl, bleat, pule, whimper, whine, sniffle, snivel, groan, moan, sigh

  2. to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions

    "you're going to try out for the football team? Don't make me laugh!"

    similar: smile, sneer, snicker, snigger
    related: sniff, snort, catcall, deride, gibe, hoot, insult, jeer, mock, ridicule, decry, despise, disdain, scoff (at), scorn, bad-mouth, belittle, disparage, pooh-pooh, put down, heckle, jive, razz, rib, ride, taunt, tease, torment

Laugh (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement

    "the child's frown turned into a laugh when he saw the clown"

    similar: belly laugh, boff, boffola, cachinnation, cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, hee-haw, horselaugh, laughter, snicker, snigger, titter, twitter
    related: crow, whoop, grin, simper, smile, smirk
    near: cry, groan, moan, sob, wail, face, frown, grimace, lower, mouth, pout, scowl

  2. someone or something that is very funny

    "that new sitcom is a laugh"

    similar: hoot, knee-slapper, riot, scream
    related: boner, howler, crack, gag, jest, joke, pleasantry, quip, sally, waggery, wisecrack, witticism, caution, sight
    near: bummer, downer

  3. something said or done to cause laughter

    "the film comedy had a good laugh in just about every scene"

    similar: boff, boffola, crack, drollery, funny, gag, giggle (chiefly British), jape, jest, joke, josh, nifty, one-liner, pleasantry, quip, rib, sally, waggery, wisecrack, witticism, yuk (slang)
    related: funning, joking, wisecracking, knee-slapper, panic (slang), riot, scream, thigh-slapper, antic, buffoonery, caper, leg-pull, monkeyshine(s), practical joke, prank, trick, burlesque, caricature, lampoon, mock, mockery, parody, put-on, riff, banter, kidding, persiflage, raillery, repartee, drollness, facetiousness, funniness, hilariousness, humorousness, comedy, humor, wit, wordplay

Related Entry: Laugh (at) (verb)

Laugh (at) is a different word from Laugh. The synonyms below are for laugh (at), not for laugh.

  1. to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter

    "most viewers seem to tune in just to laugh at the self-deluded souls who think that they can actually sing"

    similar: deride, gibe, jeer, mock, ridicule, scout, shoot down, skewer, cock a snook (at), make fun of, make sport of, poke fun at, rag on
    related: scoff (at), scorn, sneer (at), bad-mouth, belittle, decry, disparage, pooh-pooh, put down, chaff, jive, josh, kid, quiz, rally, razz, rib, ride, tease, tweak, twit, bait, barrack (chiefly British), bug, catcall, harass, harry, hassle, heckle, needle, pester, rag, target, taunt, torment, ape, burlesque, caricature, imitate, lampoon, mimic, parody, parrot, pillory, satirize, take off (on), travesty
    near: applaud, approve, commend, endorse, sanction

Related Entry: Laugh off (verb)

Laugh off is a different word from Laugh. The synonyms below are for laugh off, not for laugh.

  1. as in diminish, play down

    similar: belittle, deprecate, diminish, discount, minimize, play down, pooh-pooh, shrug off, underrate, undervalue, bemoan, lament, mourn, regret
    opposite: blow, boast, brag, bull (slang), crow, gasconade, swagger, vapor, vaunt, bluster, harangue, puff, pride

Related Entry: Belly laugh (noun)

Belly laugh is a different word from Laugh. The synonyms below are for belly laugh, not for laugh.

  1. an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement

    "humorous anecdotes that are likely to evoke lots of smiles but few belly laughs"

    similar: boff, boffola, cachinnation, cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, hee-haw, horselaugh, laugh, laughter, snicker, snigger, titter, twitter
    related: crow, whoop, grin, simper, smile, smirk
    near: cry, groan, moan, sob, wail, face, frown, grimace, lower, mouth, pout, scowl

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Laugh

The most common words with a similar meaning to Laugh:

Chiefly British: giggle
Slang: yuk
break up, cackle, chortle, chuckle, crack up, hee-haw, roar, scream, snicker, titter, twitter, smile, sneer, snigger, split one's sides, belly laugh, boff, boffola, cachinnation, guffaw, horselaugh, laughter, hoot, knee-slapper, riot, crack, drollery, funny, gag, jape, jest, joke, josh, nifty, one-liner, pleasantry, quip, rib, sally, waggery

Related Words for Laugh

grin, sniff, snort, catcall, deride, gibe, insult, jeer, mock, ridicule, decry, despise, disdain, scoff (at), scorn, bad-mouth, belittle, disparage, pooh-pooh, put down, heckle, jive, razz, ride, taunt, tease, torment, crow, whoop, simper

Near Antonyms of Laugh

bawl, blubber, cry, sob, weep, howl, squall, wail, yowl, bleat, pule, whimper, whine, sniffle, snivel, groan, moan, sigh, face, frown, grimace, lower, mouth, pout, scowl, bummer, downer

Word Forms of Laugh

Inflections: laughed, laughing, laughs

Derived words: laughingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Laugh

Middle English, from Old English hliehhan; akin to Old High German lachēn to laugh

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Laugh

Words & Phrases Containing Laugh

laugh off, laugh track, laugh all the way to the bank, laugh in someone's face, laugh like a drain, laugh lines, laugh on the other side of one's face, laugh until one cries

Frequently Asked Questions about Laugh

What does "Laugh" mean?

"Laugh" means to show emotion (such as mirth, joy, or scorn) with a chuckle or explosive vocal sound. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to show emotion (such as mirth, joy, or scorn) with a chuckle or explosive vocal sound. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Laugh"?

Other words for "Laugh" include break up, cackle, chortle, chuckle, crack up, giggle, hee-haw and roar. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Laugh" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Laugh"?

There are 113 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Laugh". Common alternatives include break up, cackle, chortle, chuckle, crack up, giggle, hee-haw, roar, scream and snicker.

How do you use "Laugh" in a sentence?

Examples of "Laugh" in a sentence: "everyone laughed when the clown dramatically slipped and fell"; "you're going to try out for the football team? Don't make me laugh!"; "the child's frown turned into a laugh when he saw the clown".

Is "Laugh" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Laugh" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Laugh" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Laugh" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Laugh"?

"Laugh" is pronounced /ˈlaf/.

What is the origin of the word "Laugh"?

"Laugh" comes from Middle English, from Old English hliehhan; akin to Old High German lachēn to laugh. First known use: before 12th centuryi.