funny
- 01 A1 Beginner
adj.making you laugh or smile.
adj.causing laughter or amusement; humorous in nature.
Simple“The comedian told a very funny story about his dog.”
In context“The play was surprisingly funny, blending sharp social satire with physical comedy that kept the audience laughing throughout the second act.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
adj.strange, surprising, or hard to explain.
adj.strange, unusual, or suspicious; often used to describe something that feels slightly wrong or unexpected.
Simple“That milk has a funny smell, so I think it might be old.”
In context“The car has been making a funny noise whenever I accelerate, so I should probably take it to the mechanic before the weekend.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.behaving in a way that is slightly angry, rude, or difficult to deal with.
adj.exhibiting unexpected resentment, moodiness, or an uncooperative attitude.
Simple“Don't get funny with me just because I asked you to help.”
In context“He went all funny when I suggested we split the bill, even though we had agreed on it earlier.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'to get funny with someone'.
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a joke or a clever remark.
n.an informal term for a joke or a humorous remark.
Simple“He tried to make a funny during the meeting, but nobody laughed.”
In context“The speaker attempted a quick funny to break the ice, though the formal atmosphere of the conference made the joke fall flat.”
- 05 B1 Intermediate
adv.in a strange or unusual way.
adv.in an unusual or peculiar manner; functions as a nonstandard alternative to 'strangely'.
Simple“My computer is acting funny today and keeps restarting.”
In context“The engine started running funny after we hit that deep puddle, suggesting some water might have entered the intake.”
UsageCommonly used with verbs like 'act', 'feel', or 'talk'.
funny vs fun — Fun describes an enjoyable experience, while funny describes something that causes laughter or seems strange.
From fun + -y.
Perhaps a jocular use of funny. See above.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.