fun

1 of 3

adjective

ˈfən 

sometimes funner; sometimes funnest

1

: providing entertainment, amusement, or enjoyment

a fun party

a fun person to be with

2

: full of fun : pleasant

have a fun time

fun

2 of 3

noun

1

: what provides amusement or enjoyment

specifically : playful often boisterous action or speech

full of fun

2

: a mood for finding or making amusement

all in fun

3

a

: amusement, enjoyment

sickness takes all the fun out of life

play games for fun

b

: derisive jest : sport, ridicule

a figure of fun

They made fun of the way he talked.

4

: violent or excited activity or argument

Insults were exchanged and then the fun began.

fun

3 of 3

verb

funned; funning

intransitive verb

: to indulge in banter or play : joke

Frequently Asked Questions

Is funner a word?

Yes, funner is a word, in spite of the fact that many people either wish it were not or believe that it isn’t. The comparative form of the adjective fun (meaning "more fun") has demonstrated widespread use over many decades and in a wide variety of published writing.

Is funnest a word?

Yes, funnest is a word, in spite of those that wish it were not. The superlative form of the adjective fun (meaning "most fun") has demonstrated widespread use over many decades, in a wide variety of published writing.

Is there a plural of fun?

Fun commonly functions as an adjective ("I had a fun time") and as a noun ("Let’s have some fun"), and somewhat less commonly as a verb ("I’m just funning you"). In its role as a noun the word is a noncount noun ("a noun that denotes a homogeneous substance or a concept without subdivisions and that in English is preceded in indefinite singular constructions by some rather than a or an"), and does not have a plural form.

Synonyms

Adjective

• amusing
• delightful
• diverting
• enjoyable
• entertaining
• pleasurable

Noun

• delight
• distraction
• diversion
• divertissement
• entertainment
• pleasure
• recreation

Verb

• banter
• chaff
• fool
• gag
• jape
• jest
• jive
• joke
• jolly
• josh
• kid
• quip
• wisecrack
• yuk [slang]
• yuck

Choose the Right Synonym for fun

fun, jest, sport, game, play mean action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter.

fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

Examples of fun in a Sentence

Adjective

Our vacation was a fun time.

She's a fun person to be with.

The park is a fun place to visit.

We had a fun time at the movie.

Noun

I can't remember when I've had so much fun.

Sickness takes all the fun out of life.

Verb

He's just funning with you.

just a couple of old friends funning with each other

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The doctor's office might be festooned with fun decorations. —Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024

The impassioned, fun, formidable set (during which Parker joined Lipa onstage) aired live on BBC One and globally on the broadcaster’s website. —Thomas Smith, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024

Noun

Expect live music and dance performances, Puerto Rican and Latin-American food, a kids' fun zone, cultural exhibits and more. —Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 18 Dec. 2024

Intense and floral with tons of fun and unique flavors that would absolutely pop with the bitterness of vermouth or the sweetness of citrus, just waiting to be turned into a dry Martini. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Verb

English dialect fun to hoax, perhaps alteration of Middle English fonnen, from fonne dupe

First Known Use

Adjective

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1726, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

1802, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fun

• figure of fun
• figure of fun/ridicule
• fun and games
• fun fair
• fun-filled
• fun house
• in fun
• just for fun
• make fun of
• more fun than a barrel (full) of monkeys
• poke fun at

Video

Fun, Funner, Funnest

Why does it sound strange to say 'funner' or 'funnest?'

Kids Definition

fun

1 of 3 noun

ˈfən 

1

: someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment

the twins were fun to have around

picnics are great fun

2

: a good time : amusement, enjoyment

have fun

plays cards just for fun

3

: words or actions that make someone or something an object of unkind laughter

kids making fun of me

fun

2 of 3 verb

funned; funning

: to engage in joking or play

I was only funning

fun

3 of 3 adjective

1

: providing fun

a fun party

a fun person

2

: full of fun : pleasant sense 1

have a fun time