laughing

[laf-ing, lah-fing]

adjective

1. that laughs or is given to laughter.

   a laughing child.

2. uttering sounds like human laughter, as some birds.

3. suggesting laughter by brightness, color, sound, etc..

   a laughing stream; laughing flowers.

4. laughable.

   The increase in crime is no laughing matter.

noun

1. laughter.

Other Word Forms

• laughingly adverb
• unlaughing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of laughing¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; laugh, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

"I take it. I laugh about it. At the time, I wasn't laughing because I was upset, but as you get older you get more relaxed."

From BBC

O'Connor had followed the Jets' sorry search for a successor to legendary quarterback Joe Namath, which had turned them into a laughing stock.

From BBC

That video was followed by Ukrainian footage showing a laughing soldier pointing at the burning wreckage and exclaiming: "They've hit my wooden tank!"

From BBC

“Greg and I attempted to play tennis four days a week as our New Year’s resolution,” she says, laughing.

From Los Angeles Times

She was like, ‘Absolutely not,’ ” Jones said, laughing at the memory.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• humorous