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hilarious
/hɪˈlɛəriəs/
extremely funny
The comedian's jokes were so hilarious that the entire audience laughed uncontrollably.
The jokes were extremely funny, making everyone laugh hard.
informal
Extremely amusing and causing loud laughter.
Her hilarious impression of the teacher made the whole class burst into laughter.
Her funny imitation of the teacher caused everyone to laugh loudly.
The movie was hilarious from start to finish, with non-stop gags.
The film was extremely funny throughout, filled with constant jokes.
Often used to describe something that is very entertaining and provokes hearty laughter. Avoid using for mild amusement.
Collocations
hilarious laughterextremely loud and joyful laughterhilarious jokea joke that is very funnyhilarious storya story that is very amusing
Pro Tip
Avoid overuse
Use 'hilarious' only for things that are genuinely very funny. Saying 'This is hilarious' about minor things can make your language sound unnatural.
Gold Rule
Intensity matters
The word 'hilarious' implies extreme amusement. If something is only slightly funny, use words like 'funny', 'amusing', or 'entertaining' instead.
Word Origin
From Latin *hilaris* (cheerful, merry), via Latin *hilaritas* (cheerfulness), entering English in the early 17th century with the sense of 'cheerful, merry' before evolving to mean 'extremely funny' by the late 18th century.
Usage Notes
Primarily used in informal contexts. Avoid overusing in formal writing. The word emphasizes intensity of humor, so reserve it for genuinely very funny situations.
Word Breakdown
hilar-
cheerful, merry (Latin)
root-ious
characterized by (adjective-forming suffix)
suffixEnglish Dictionary