amuse
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /əˈmjuːz/
Verb

amuse (amuses, present participle amusing; past and past participle amused)

  1. (transitive) To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing emotions.
    I watch these movies because they amuse me.
    It always amuses me to hear the funny stories why people haven't got a ticket, but I never let them get in without paying.
    • A group of children amusing themselves with pushing stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake.
  2. To cause laughter or amusement; to be funny.
    His jokes rarely fail to amuse.
  3. (transitive, archaic) To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude.
    • He amused his followers with idle promises.
  4. (transitive, archaic) To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder.
    • Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were amused in receiving their gold.
    • 1655, Thomas Fuller, Church History of England
      Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations
  • Russian: завлека́ть



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