# funny

/ˈfəni/ (US) · /fˈʌni/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/funny
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. amusing

adjective · CEFR A1

making you laugh or smile.

For teachers: causing laughter or amusement; humorous in nature.

- The comedian told a very funny story about his dog.
- The play was surprisingly funny, blending sharp social satire with physical comedy that kept the audience laughing throughout the second act.

### 2. strange or unusual

adjective · CEFR A2

strange, surprising, or hard to explain.

For teachers: strange, unusual, or suspicious; often used to describe something that feels slightly wrong or unexpected.

- That milk has a funny smell, so I think it might be old.
- The car has been making a funny noise whenever I accelerate, so I should probably take it to the mechanic before the weekend.

### 3. unfriendly or resentful

adjective · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

behaving in a way that is slightly angry, rude, or difficult to deal with.

For teachers: exhibiting unexpected resentment, moodiness, or an uncooperative attitude.

- Don't get funny with me just because I asked you to help.
- He went all funny when I suggested we split the bill, even though we had agreed on it earlier.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'to get funny with someone'.

### 4. a joke

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a joke or a clever remark.

For teachers: an informal term for a joke or a humorous remark.

- He tried to make a funny during the meeting, but nobody laughed.
- The speaker attempted a quick funny to break the ice, though the formal atmosphere of the conference made the joke fall flat.

### 5. strangely

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal

in a strange or unusual way.

For teachers: in an unusual or peculiar manner; functions as a nonstandard alternative to 'strangely'.

- My computer is acting funny today and keeps restarting.
- The engine started running funny after we hit that deep puddle, suggesting some water might have entered the intake.

Usage: Commonly used with verbs like 'act', 'feel', or 'talk'.

## Examples

- That movie was so funny that I couldn't stop laughing.
- The milk has a funny smell, so I think we should throw it away.
- While the comedian's routine was undeniably funny, some critics found his reliance on physical slapstick a bit repetitive for a modern audience.

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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.