B2verbemotionsrelationships
US/əˈmjuːz/
UK/əˈmjuːz/
to make someone smile or laugh, or to keep someone pleasantly busy
In context
The clown tried to amuse the children while they waited for the show.
Her jokes never fail to amuse the whole family.
He amused himself by watching people at the train station.
Words that go with amuse
verb + noun
- amuse the childrenA puppet show will amuse the children for an hour.
- amuse yourselfYou can amuse yourself with a book on the long flight.
- amuse the audienceThe speaker used stories to amuse the audience.
verb + preposition
- amuse yourself withYou can amuse yourself with a game of cards.
adverb + verb
- never fail to amuseHer stories never fail to amuse us.
- greatly amuseThe idea seemed to greatly amuse him.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
I was very amusing by the film.Correct: I was very amused by the film.