Cool MateAmusing vs That's very funny
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Amusing
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
That's very funny
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Amusing
| Amusing | That's very funny | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈmjuːzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈmjuːzɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ˈvɛri ˈfʌni//🇺🇸 //ðæts ˈvɛri ˈfʌni// |
| Meaning | Fun or funny; able to make people laugh. | It makes me laugh a lot. |
| Example | an amusing story/game/incident | His joke was so clever; that's very funny! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, sound, find something, extremely, fairly, very, not remotely amusing, nothing remotely amusing | that's very funny indeed, that's very funny you mention it, that's very funny, isn't it |
| Antonyms | boring, dull, uninteresting | - |
| 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. | 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 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 That's very funny
What's the difference between Amusing and That's very funny?
Amusing: Fun or funny; able to make people laugh. That's very funny: It makes me laugh a lot.
Which is more formal: Amusing and That's very funny?
Amusing is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Amusing: an amusing story/game/incident That's very funny: His joke was so clever; that's very funny!
Can I use Amusing and That's very funny interchangeably?
Not always. Amusing 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.