Humorous Meaning
/ˈhjuːməɹəs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjFull of humor or arousing laughter; funny.
adjShowing humor; witty, jocular.
Sentence Examples
The writer is very humorous.
His behavior at the party was so humorous that I could not help laughing.
He gave a humorous account of their trip to Spain.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ movie about a clumsy detective had the audience laughing from start to finish.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The book is a ____ account of the author's travels through the remote countryside.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English humorous (compare Medieval Latin hūmorōsus), equivalent to humor + -ous.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[S]uch is now the Duke's condition
That he misconstrues all that you have done.
The Duke is humorous; what he is, indeed,
More suits you to conceive than I to speak of."
— c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], lines 380-83:
"It is a melancholy humor[…]that firſt put this humorous conceipt [translating resverie] of writing into my head."
— 1603, Michel de Montaigne, “Of the affection of fathers to their children”, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 212:
"I felt at this time as if I could have been fond of him too, if he would have let me; but I was timid from my childhood, and before long my dread of his displeasure […] conquered my humorous inclination to love one who was so handsome, so accomplished, so indulgent and devoted."
— 1861, Elizabeth Gaskell, The Grey Woman:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ movie about a clumsy detective had the audience laughing from start to finish.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The book is a ____ account of the author's travels through the remote countryside.