fun
gb/fˈʌn/ us/fˈʌn/
A1
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
state
1
enjoyable activity or feeling
A feeling of happiness and enjoyment, often when doing something you like.
Usage pattern:
have [fun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fun' with 'funny'. 'Fun' means enjoyable, while 'funny' means causing laughter.
Synonyms
enjoyment (More formal; focuses on the state of enjoying something)
|
amusement (Slightly formal; emphasizes entertainment or laughter)
Antonyms
boredom (The opposite feeling of being uninterested or not entertained)
Collocations
have fun
|good fun
|a lot of fun
|make fun
|fun to be with
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|leisure
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We had so much fun at the party.
- Skiing is great fun in the winter.
- The kids are having fun playing in the yard.
- It was fun to try something new.
- They know how to make learning fun.
Learner examples
- I had fun at the park.
- This game is fun.
- We have fun together.
- It is fun to swim.
- The party was fun.
adjective
informal
A1
property
2
enjoyable or amusing
Making people happy or entertained.
Usage pattern:
[something] is fun
Common mistake:
Some learners mistakenly use 'funny' instead of 'fun'. 'Funny' means amusing in a humorous way, not generally enjoyable.
Synonyms
enjoyable (Neutral; slightly more formal)
|
entertaining (Emphasizes being amusing or holding attention)
Antonyms
boring (Causing no interest or excitement)
Collocations
fun activity
|fun game
|fun time
|fun place
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- That was a really fun movie to watch.
- She’s a fun teacher who makes classes exciting.
- It’s a fun way to learn new skills.
- This park is a fun place for children.
Learner examples
- This book is fun.
- The game is fun.
- She is a fun person.
- It is a fun trip.
Noun
B1
action
3
playful teasing or joking
Something said or done to be playful and not serious.
Usage pattern:
in [fun]
Synonyms
joke (More general term for humorous remark or act)
Antonyms
seriousness (Opposite in tone; lacking playfulness)
Collocations
in fun
|just for fun
Themes
emotions
|communication
|relationships
|daily_life
Examples
- He only said that in fun.
- It was just for fun, not to upset anyone.
- Their comments were all in good fun.
Learner examples
- I said it in fun.
- It was just for fun.
- We play games for fun.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fun
IPA
GB/fˈʌn/
US/fˈʌn/
Syllables & stress
fun (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (fun)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: fun
Noun
- Base: fun
- Plural: fun
Word family
Expressions
have fun
1/hˈæv fˈʌn/
fixed phrase
enjoy yourself doing something
To enjoy yourself when doing something.
Examples
- Have fun at the concert tonight!
- We had so much fun on our trip.
in good fun
1/ˈɪn ɡˈʊd fˈʌn/
fixed phrase
playful and not meant to hurt feelings
Done in a playful way and not meant to be hurtful.
Examples
- Their teasing was all in good fun.
- It was just a prank in good fun.
just for fun
1/d͡ʒˈʌst fɚ fˈʌn/
fixed phrase
do something without serious reason
To do something only because it is enjoyable, not for any serious reason.
Examples
- I joined the dance class just for fun.
- They built the robot just for fun.
make fun of
1/mˈeɪk fˈʌn əv/
idiom
mock or tease someone playfully or unkindly
To laugh at someone or something, sometimes in a mean way.
Examples
- Don’t make fun of his accent.
- They made fun of my shoes.