How do you use the word "amuse" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "amuse": How will they amuse the children on a wet afternoon? Small things amuse small minds.

Amuse Meaning

/əˈmjuːz/

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

verbTo entertain or occupy (someone or something) in a pleasant manner; to stir (someone) with pleasing emotions.

verbTo cause laughter or amusement; to be funny.

Sentence Examples

How will they amuse the children on a wet afternoon?

Small things amuse small minds.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

divert

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

The clown's silly antics never failed to ____ the young children at the birthday party.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The clown's funny antics were sure to ____ the young children.

Word Origin & History

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Old French a- Old French muser Old French amuserbor. Middle English *amusen English amuse From Late Middle English *amusen (“to mutter, be astonished, gaze meditatively on”), from Old French amuser (“to stupefy, waste time, be lost in thought”), from a- + muser (“to stare stupidly at, gape, wander, waste time, loiter, think carefully about, attend to”), of uncertain and obscure origin. Cognate with Occitan musa (“idle waiting”), Italian musare (“to gape idly about”). Possibly from Old French *mus (“snout”) from Vulgar Latin *mūsa (“snout”) — compare Medieval Latin mūsum (“muzzle, snout”) –, from Proto-Germanic *mū- (“muzzle, snout”), from Proto-Indo-European *mū- (“lips, muzzle”). Compare North Frisian müs, mös (“mouth”), German Maul (“muzzle, snout”). Alternative etymology connects muser and musa with Frankish *muoza (“careful attention, leisure, idleness”), from Proto-Germanic *mōtǭ (“leave, permission”), from Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to acquire, possess, control”). This would make it a cognate of Dutch musen (“to leisure”), Old High German *muoza (“careful attention, leisure, idleness”) and muozōn (“to be idle, have leisure or opportunity”), German Muße (“leisure”). More at empty.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"A group of children amusing themselves with pushing stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake." — 1786, William Gilpin, Observations, relative chiefly to picturesque beauty, made in the year 1772, on several parts of England; particularly the mountains, and lakes of Cumberland, and Westmoreland:

"Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house." — 1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI):

"the enemies were amused on the fires that our men made" — 1659, T[itus] Livius [i.e., Livy], “(please specify the book number)”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Romane Historie […], London: […] W. Hunt, for George Sawbridge, […], →OCLC:

"Hairs which have most amused me have not been in the Face or Head, but on the Back, and not in Men but Children, as I long ago observed in that Endemial Distemper of little Children in Languedock, called the Morgellons, […]" — 1690, Thomas Browne, A Letter to a Friend:

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