Word
Definitions
01funny or amusing
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. funny and enjoyable; something that makes you smile or laugh.
adj. arousing laughter or amusement; characterized by humor or wit.
日本語:ユーモラス※
“He told a humorous story about his first day at work that made everyone laugh.”
“The author's humorous observations about suburban life provide a lighthearted but accurate critique of modern social norms.”
Pitfall
The movie was very humor.
The movie was very humorous.
Use the noun 'humor' for the quality itself, and the adjective 'humorous' to describe the thing that is funny.
02capricious or moody
C2 · Proficiency Archaic
adj. changing your mood or mind quickly for no clear reason.
adj. subject to or indicative of a person's changing moods or whims.
“In the old play, the king was a humorous man who changed his mind every hour.”
“The character's humorous nature was attributed to an imbalance of fluids, leading to sudden and unpredictable shifts in his temperament.”
Usage
This sense relates to the historical medical theory of the four humours.
Teaching tip
This sense is archaic and rarely encountered outside of historical literature or academic discussions of medieval medicine.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “humorous” in context.
Verb
01. find the situation humorous
“Although everyone else was angry, Mark seemed to find the situation humorous.”
verb + noun + adj
02. remain humorous
“It is difficult to remain humorous when you are dealing with such a stressful deadline.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. gently humorous
“The novel is a gently humorous look at the struggles of modern family life.”
adv + adj
04. highly humorous
“Critics described the play as highly humorous and full of witty dialogue.”
adv + adj
05. humorous anecdote
“The speaker began his presentation with a humorous anecdote about his first day at work.”
adj + noun
06. humorous side
“Even in difficult situations, she always tries to see the humorous side of things.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“The Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded this week for humorous yet thought-provoking research.” “It’s about being witty and humorous on the spot.” Etymology
From Middle English humorous (compare Medieval Latin hūmorōsus), equivalent to humor + -ous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/humorous
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0