# funnier

/ˈfəniɝ/ (US) · /fˈʌnɪɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/funnier
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. more humorous

adjective · CEFR A2

more likely to make you laugh than something else.

For teachers: causing greater amusement or laughter than a comparative referent.

- I think the second comedian was much funnier than the first one.
- The revised script proved significantly funnier than the original draft, largely due to the addition of sharp observational dialogue.

Usage: Followed by 'than' when comparing two specific things.

### 2. more strange

adjective · CEFR B1

more unusual, surprising, or difficult to explain.

For teachers: exhibiting a higher degree of strangeness, suspicion, or eccentricity.

- It is funnier that he didn't call at all than if he had just been late.
- The situation became even funnier when we realized that both witnesses had provided identical, yet physically impossible, accounts of the event.

Teaching tip: Remind students that 'funny' often means 'strange' rather than 'humorous'; context usually clarifies which meaning is intended.

### 3. in a stranger way

adverb · CEFR B2 · Informal

behaving or happening in a way that is more unusual or suspicious.

For teachers: in a manner that is more peculiar or suspicious than another instance.

- He has been acting even funnier since he got that mysterious phone call.
- The engine started behaving funnier after the long drive, making a high-pitched whine that the mechanic couldn't immediately identify.

Usage: Often used with verbs of perception or behavior like 'acting' or 'looking'.

## Examples

- This movie is even funnier than the first one.
- The comedian's second set was much funnier because he started telling stories about his own family.
- While the original script was witty, the revised version is significantly funnier due to the addition of physical comedy and sharper dialogue.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.