funny
gb/fˈʌni/ us/fˈʌni/
A2
English
~ 2000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
causing laughter or amusement
Making you want to laugh; amusing.
Usage pattern:
[something] is funny
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'funny' with 'fun', but 'funny' means amusing, while 'fun' means enjoyable.
Synonyms
amusing (Slightly more formal; may suggest gentle humor.)
|
hilarious (Stronger than 'funny'; very amusing.)
Antonyms
serious (Not intended to make people laugh; solemn.)
Collocations
very funny
|really funny
|find [something] funny
|funny story
|funny joke
Themes
emotions
|entertainment
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- That comedian is really funny.
- It was a funny movie that everyone enjoyed.
- She told a funny story about her childhood.
- I think this cartoon is funny.
- He makes funny faces to cheer us up.
Learner examples
- The book is very funny.
- My friend is a funny man.
- This TV show is funny.
- I like funny stories.
adjective
B1
property
2
strange or unusual
Strange or not normal, sometimes making you feel worried.
Usage pattern:
[something] is funny
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'funny' always means 'amusing', but here it means strange or suspicious.
Synonyms
odd (More neutral and less emotional than 'funny'.)
|
peculiar (Slightly formal; suggests noticeable strangeness.)
Antonyms
normal (Usual or expected; not strange.)
Collocations
funny feeling
|funny look
|funny smell
|something funny about [something]
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There’s something funny about the way he’s acting.
- I got a funny feeling we were being watched.
- The milk smells funny—don’t drink it.
- His behavior was a bit funny after the meeting.
- That’s a funny place to park your car.
Learner examples
- The water tastes funny.
- He gave me a funny look.
- This is a funny question.
- I have a funny feeling about this.
adjective
informal
B1
state
3
feeling slightly unwell or odd
Feeling a little sick or not normal in your body or mind.
Usage pattern:
feel funny
Synonyms
queasy (Specifically refers to nausea.)
|
unwell (General term for not feeling healthy.)
Antonyms
well (Healthy and free from illness.)
Collocations
feel funny
|a bit funny
|my stomach feels funny
Themes
health
|daily life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I started to feel funny after eating that sandwich.
- She felt funny during the long bus ride.
- Something in that drink made me feel funny.
- My head feels funny after looking at the screen too long.
Learner examples
- I feel funny after lunch.
- My head feels funny today.
- She feels funny when she runs fast.
Grammar
Dictionary form
funny
IPA
GB/fˈʌni/
US/fˈʌni/
Syllables & stress
funny (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (funny)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: funny
- Comparative: funnier
- Superlative: funniest
Word family
Forms
funnier
adjective
funniest
adjective
Core family
fun
noun A1
Related words
funnily
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unfunny
adjective
Advanced or less common
funniness
noun
Expressions
funny bone
1/fˈʌni bˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
spot on elbow causing tingling if struck
The place inside your elbow that hurts and tingles when you hit it.
Examples
- I hit my funny bone on the table and it hurt for minutes.
- He banged his elbow right on the funny bone.
funny business
1/fˈʌni bˈɪznɪs/
idiom
informal
dishonest or suspicious behavior
Dishonest, wrong, or suspicious actions.
Examples
- There’s no room for any funny business in this deal.
- The police suspected some funny business at the warehouse.
in a funny way
1/ˈɪn ə fˈʌni wˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
in an unusual or amusing way
In a way that is strange or makes people laugh.
Examples
- He talks in a funny way that makes everyone smile.
- The painting is beautiful in a funny way.
see the funny side (of something)
1/sˈi ðə fˈʌni sˈaɪd əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
find something amusing despite problems
To notice what is amusing about a bad or difficult situation.
Examples
- Even after the accident, she managed to see the funny side.
- Try to see the funny side when things go wrong.