ENGLISH
REFERENCE

amused

adj.
B1 Intermediate US //əmˈjuzd// UK //ɐmjˈuːsd// amused

adj. feeling that something is funny or entertaining. You feel this way when something makes you smile or laugh quietly.

adj. finding something funny or entertaining; feeling mild pleasure or amusement. Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'feel', 'seem', or 'look'.


SIMPLE

She looked amused by his silly joke.

CONTEXTUAL

The teacher gave an amused smile when the student tried to explain why his homework was late.

COMPLEX

The audience remained politely amused throughout the first act, though the play's darker themes eventually shifted the mood from lighthearted laughter to somber reflection.

Synonyms
Origin

From amuse + -ed.

Usage

Often follows a linking verb or appears before a noun to describe a person's expression.

Pitfall

The movie was very amused.The movie was very amusing.Learners often confuse the -ed adjective (how a person feels) with the -ing adjective (the thing that causes the feeling).

Idioms1 entry

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