Definitions
01feeling of being entertained
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the feeling you have when you find something funny or interesting.
n. the state or experience of finding something funny, entertaining, or pleasing. Uncountable in this abstract sense.
“She couldn't hide her amusement when the puppy started chasing its own tail.”
“To his great amusement, the prestigious professor had accidentally worn two different shoes to the lecture.”
Usage
Often follows the preposition 'in' or 'with'.
02an entertaining activity
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something that you do for fun or to pass the time.
n. a specific activity, game, or pastime that provides entertainment. Countable in this sense.
“The small town offered very few amusements for teenagers during the winter.”
“The Victorian estate featured various outdoor amusements, including a croquet lawn and a private boating lake.”
Usage
Commonly used in the plural form 'amusements'.
Synonyms
03fairground rides
B1 · Intermediate Plural noun
n. machines or games at a fair, like a roller coaster, that people pay to use.
n. mechanical devices or games found at fairs or parks designed for public entertainment.
“We spent the whole day at the amusement park trying every roller coaster.”
“The seaside pier was packed with traditional amusements, from arcade machines to a vintage carousel.”
Usage
Frequently appears in the compound 'amusement park'.
Synonyms
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Old French a- Old French muser Old French amuser Middle French amuser Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-məntom Latin -mentum Old French -ment Middle French -ment Middle French amusementbor. English amusement Borrowed from Middle French amusement, from amuser + -ment. Morphologically amuse + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/amusement
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0