laugh
A1Neutral (Used in all registers from informal to formal, though certain idioms are more informal.)
Definition
Meaning
To make the spontaneous sounds and movements of the face and body that are the instinctive expressions of lively amusement and sometimes also of derision.
To experience or express happiness, amusement, or mockery; to produce a characteristic sound; to treat something as ridiculous or trivial (e.g., laugh off an insult).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a voluntary or involuntary physical reaction to humour, joy, or nervousness. Can also signify scorn or ridicule. Functions as both a verb and a countable/uncountable noun.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling in derivatives (e.g., BrE 'laughable', AmE also 'laughable'). No significant difference in core usage. The noun 'a laugh' meaning 'a fun experience' ("It was a right laugh") is more characteristic of informal BrE.
Connotations
Similar core connotations. Informal BrE 'a laugh' as a positive experience is slightly more established than in AmE.
Frequency
Extremely high and comparable frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
laugh (intransitive)laugh at [someone/something]laugh [object] + adjective (e.g., laugh oneself silly)laugh about [something]laugh off [something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “laugh one's head off”
- “die laughing”
- “laugh all the way to the bank”
- “no laughing matter”
- “laugh in someone's face”
- “for a laugh”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Often used metaphorically: 'The market laughed at their predictions.' Can appear in informal networking contexts: 'We shared a laugh over lunch.'
Academic
Rare in formal academic prose except in specific fields like psychology (e.g., 'the physiology of laughter') or literary analysis (e.g., 'comic relief').
Everyday
Extremely common in all social interactions to express amusement, bonding, or gentle mockery.
Technical
In medicine/psychology: refers to the physiological and neurological phenomenon of laughter.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The whole pub laughed at his story.
- Don't laugh, it's not funny!
- She laughed off the criticism with a shrug.
American English
- The audience laughed during the comedian's set.
- I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.
- He laughed nervously before answering.
adverb
British English
- She smiled laughingly as she told the embarrassing tale.
American English
- He laughingly admitted he'd forgotten his own birthday.
adjective
British English
- He has a very laughable understanding of economics.
- The situation was anything but laughable.
American English
- It's a laughable proposal with no serious backing.
- Her excuses were simply laughable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children laugh when they play.
- That film made me laugh.
- She has a nice laugh.
- It's rude to laugh at people.
- We all laughed about it afterwards.
- He gave a short, bitter laugh.
- They laughed off the rumours as pure fiction.
- The idea was initially met with derisive laughter.
- He managed to laugh in the face of adversity.
- The court's decision was laughably inept, prompting outrage from legal experts.
- His memoir is laced with a wry, self-deprecating laugh at his own follies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound 'la' in 'laugh' as the start of the sound you make: 'la-la-laugh!'
Conceptual Metaphor
HAPPINESS/AMUSEMENT IS UP ("That joke had me in stitches"), MOCKERY IS A PHYSICAL ATTACK ("They laughed him out of the room").
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'smile' (улыбаться). 'Laugh' requires sound.
- The phrase 'have a laugh' (BrE) means to have fun/joke, not just to produce laughter.
- The noun 'laughter' is uncountable (смех), while 'a laugh' is countable (смешинка, случай посмеяться).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *'I laugh to the joke.' Correct: 'I laugh at the joke.'
- Incorrect: *'She made a loud laughter.' Correct: 'She let out loud laughter' or 'She gave a loud laugh.'
- Overusing 'laugh' for polite smiling.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is an idiom meaning 'to be very successful, especially financially'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Laugh' is primarily a verb and a countable noun (e.g., 'She gave a laugh'). 'Laughter' is an uncountable noun referring to the act or sound of laughing in general (e.g., 'Sounds of laughter filled the room').
Both are correct but differ slightly. 'Laugh at' often implies the direct object of the laughter (a person, thing). It can be mean-spirited. 'Laugh about' refers to laughing concerning a past event or situation, often shared reminiscing (e.g., 'We still laugh about that holiday').
Yes, informally, especially in British English. 'It was a good laugh' means it was a fun, enjoyable experience. 'He's a laugh' means he's a fun person to be around.
'Guffaw' is a noun/verb for a loud, boisterous laugh, often implying a lack of restraint. For a quieter, often sly laugh, 'snicker' or 'chuckle' are more appropriate.
Collections
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Emotions and Feelings
A2 · 33 words · Words to describe how you feel.