Cool MateAmusing vs Entertaining vs Hilarious vs That's very funny
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Amusing
Entertaining
Hilarious
That's very funny
| Amusing | Entertaining | Hilarious | That's very funny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈmjuːzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈmjuːzɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌentəˈteɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌentərˈteɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/hɪˈleəriəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/hɪˈleriəs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ˈvɛri ˈfʌni//🇺🇸 //ðæts ˈvɛri ˈfʌni// |
| Meaning | Fun or funny; able to make people laugh. | Fun and enjoyable to watch or listen to. | Very funny; something that makes you laugh a lot. | It makes me laugh a lot. |
| Example | an amusing story/game/incident | an entertaining speech/evening | a hilarious joke/story | His joke was so clever; that's very funny! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, sound, find something, extremely, fairly, very, not remotely amusing, nothing remotely amusing | be, sound, become, extremely, fairly, very, entertaining and informative | hilarious joke, hilarious situation, hilarious movie, hilarious comment | that's very funny indeed, that's very funny you mention it, that's very funny, isn't it |
| Antonyms | boring, dull, uninteresting | boring, uninspiring, dull | serious, boring, unfunny | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'amused' - 'amused' means you are entertained; 'amusing' means something is entertaining., Using 'amusing' with a noun directly—remember to use it with a verb or another context., Believing it's only for comedy—can be used for any entertaining situation. | Confusing 'entertaining' with 'entertainment', Using 'entertaining' to describe something boring, Saying 'entertaining to watch' instead of 'entertaining to watch' | Using 'hilarious' for something only mildly funny., Confusing 'hilarious' with 'humorous', which is less intense., Using it in a negative context incorrectly. | Mixing with 'That's so funny' which is less intense., Using in serious discussions where humor is inappropriate., Incorrectly using it when something is not funny at all. |
| Usage notes | Use 'amusing' when something entertains you or provides humor. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but may sound slightly more sophisticated than simply saying something is 'funny'. | Use 'entertaining' when describing movies, shows, or activities that hold people's interest. It's appropriate in casual conversations and formal contexts, but avoid using it in technical or serious discussions about content quality. | Use 'hilarious' to describe jokes, movies, or situations that are very funny. It fits well in both casual and formal contexts but might feel too strong for mild humor. | Use when something is humorous or amusing. Common in casual conversations among friends. Avoid in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Amusing vs Entertaining vs Hilarious vs That's very funny
What's the difference between Amusing, Entertaining, Hilarious, and That's very funny?
Amusing: Fun or funny; able to make people laugh. Entertaining: Fun and enjoyable to watch or listen to. Hilarious: Very funny; something that makes you laugh a lot. That's very funny: It makes me laugh a lot.
Can you show an example of each?
Amusing: an amusing story/game/incident Entertaining: an entertaining speech/evening Hilarious: a hilarious joke/story That's very funny: His joke was so clever; that's very funny!
Can I use Amusing, Entertaining, Hilarious, and That's very funny interchangeably?
Not always. Amusing, Entertaining, Hilarious, and That's very funny are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.