Hilarious Meaning
/hɪˈlɛə.ɹi.əs/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjVery funny; causing great merriment and laughter.
adjFull of hilarity; merry.
Sentence Examples
The newspaper published a hilarious parody of the president's speech.
He is one of the most hilarious comedians.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The movie's jokes were so ____ that everyone laughed loudly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The comedian told a ____ story that had everyone in the theater laughing uncontrollably.
Word Origin & History
Learned borrowing from Latin hilaris (“cheerful”) + -ious, from Ancient Greek ἱλαρός (hilarós, “cheerful, merry”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Cold Doctor Pell here refused a very considerable fee. He could on occasion behave handsomely; but I can't learn that blustering, hilarious Doctor Rogerson ever refused his."
— 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:
"In order to turn the minds of hilarious guests to seriousness, they would start singing a responsive song, the subject of which was death and the earnestness of life."
— 1929, Abraham Zevi Idelsohn, Jewish Music: Its Historical Development, page 98:
"Rounding up the animals in the misty paddocks, with the blackbirds singing as the morning whitened, he felt hilarious, light-headed. He'd clap the cows on their rumps and shout "Come along, there! Come along there, me Irish darlint.""
— 1944, Douglas Stewart, A Girl with Red Hair, and Other Stories, page 60:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The movie's jokes were so ____ that everyone laughed loudly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The comedian told a ____ story that had everyone in the theater laughing uncontrollably.