amusement

noun

amuse·​ment ə-ˈmyüz-mənt 

1

: a means of amusing or entertaining

what are her favorite amusements

2

: the condition of being amused

could not hide his amusement

3

: pleasurable diversion : entertainment

plays the piano for amusement

Synonyms of amusement

• entertainment
• recreation

Examples of amusement in a Sentence

I'm reading this novel for amusement.

Several games were provided for the education and amusement of the children.

Recent Examples on the Web

The thread, originally posted by user SxnKisss, reflects a broader mix of amusement and skepticism. —Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026

But then Bennett later pulled the same trick at the Beverly Hilton hotel, to McCartney’s amusement. —Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2026

No one wants to be a jester, debasing oneself for a more powerful person’s amusement. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026

Until the very end, our friend and colleague Calvin Tomkins looked at his life with a sense of wonder and wry amusement. —David Remnick, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing amusement

• amusement arcade
• amusement park
• to one's amusement

Kids Definition

amusement

noun

amuse·​ment ə-ˈmyüz-mənt 

1

: something that amuses

2

: the condition of being amused