hilarity

noun

hi·​lar·​i·​ty hi-ˈler-ə-tē 

hī-

: boisterous merriment or laughter

Synonyms

• cheer
• cheerfulness
• cheeriness
• festivity
• gaiety
• gayety
• gayness
• glee
• gleefulness
• jocundity
• joviality
• merriment
• merriness
• mirth
• mirthfulness

Examples of hilarity in a Sentence

My attempt to carve the turkey was a source of great hilarity at the dinner table.

hilarity is the last thing you expect to find at a funeral, but we were there to celebrate his life rather than to dwell on his death

Recent Examples on the Web

An overlaid text on the video drew further attention to the hilarity of the moment. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025

However, a slew of challenges arise, deterring their relationship — and hilarity ensues. —Emily Burns, Footwear News, 29 May 2025

Joining in the hilarity are Liz’s 19-year-old daughter Amanda (Abbie Black) and her boyfriend Trenner (Alex Lopez). —Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025

The Laff Box, and its more modern versions, had trapped their expressions of hilarity and stuffed them into a chuckle cube for endless recycling. —James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hilarity

• alterity
• asperity
• austerity
• celerity
• dexterity
• disparity
• molarity
• planarity
• polarity
• posterity
• prosperity
• severity

Kids Definition

hilarity

noun

hi·​lar·​i·​ty hil-ˈar-ət-ē 

-ˈer-;

hī-ˈlar-,

-ˈler-

: noisy fun