AMUSING

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does amusing mean? 

• AMUSING (adjective)
  The adjective AMUSING has 2 senses:

1. providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining

2. arousing or provoking laughter

  Familiarity information: AMUSING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AMUSING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining

Synonyms:

amusing; amusive; diverting

Context example:

a diverting story

Similar:

interesting (arousing or holding the attention)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Arousing or provoking laughter

Synonyms:

amusing; comic; comical; funny; laughable; mirthful; risible

Context example:

risible courtroom antics

Similar:

humorous; humourous (full of or characterized by humor)

 Context examples 

Beth was soon able to lie on the study sofa all day, amusing herself with the well-beloved cats at first, and in time with doll's sewing, which had fallen sadly behind-hand.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“I did not know before,” continued Bingley immediately, “that you were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study.”

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

No, if I read any, it shall be Mrs. Radcliffe's; her novels are amusing enough; they are worth reading; some fun and nature in them.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

We have just been trying, by way of doing something, and amusing my mother, just within the last week, to get up a few scenes, a mere trifle.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back to business, Watson.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is most amusing and ridiculous, but I feel sorry for him, too.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

We have shared this same room for some years, and it would be amusing if we ended by sharing the same cell.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But she is so amusing, so extremely amusing!

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

We smiled again, said amusing things, and waxed optimistic over our situation.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The idea of Louisa Musgrove turned into a person of literary taste, and sentimental reflection was amusing, but she had no doubt of its being so.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)