hilarious

1 of 2

adjective

hi·​lar·​i·​ous hi-ˈler-ē-əs How to pronounce hilarious (audio)
hī-
Synonyms of hilarious
: marked by or causing hilarity : extremely funny
hilariously adverb
hilariousness noun

hilariousness

2 of 2

noun

hi·​lar·​i·​ous·​ness
plural -es
: hilarity

Synonyms of hilarious

Relevance

Adjective

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Examples of hilarious in a Sentence

Adjective Raymond is different, so well written and acted, so perfectly pitched, that even the silences, especially the silences, are hilarious. It makes comedy look easy. —James Morris, Wilson Quarterly, Autumn 2005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tim Burton's adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved (by children) and reviled (by critics and librarians) book, is quirky, well acted, often hilarious, and visually sumptuous, but don't go to it expecting sweetness in anything except the title. —Richard Alleva, Commonweal, 12 Aug. 2005
In fairness, McEnroe does have genuine passion for the game, and his willingness to take on the sport's sacred cows is admirable. His candor and hilarious random ruminations as an analyst make even the most lopsided matches worth watching. —Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated, 17 Sept. 2001
Since his material is genuinely funny, at times hilarious, it makes for a smashing use of audio as a unique entertainment medium. Sedaris has an unexpectedly high-pitched voice that comes across as majorly mischievous in its delivery … —Publishers Weekly, 5 May 1997
Some people don't like his comedy, but I think he's hilarious. She gave us a hilarious account of her first days as a teacher.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The scripts are hilarious, full of twists and a lot of heart. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026 During her conversation with hosts Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson, Morris also shared a hilarious story from Swift and Kelce’s nuptials. — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 Plenty think the debate is simply hilarious and said all the moms should start a separate group chat without Michelle and agree to load up on the Oreos in the lunch boxes just to drive her crazy. — Sarah Scott, Parents, 27 Aug. 2026 It’s been a long road from that pivotal New Mexican trial to this hilarious cartoon version, with corporations erecting bigger and bigger speed bumps. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hilarious

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

irregular from Latin hilarus, hilaris cheerful, from Greek hilaros

First Known Use

Adjective

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hilarious was in 1925

Rhymes for hilarious

See All Rhymes for hilarious

Browse Nearby Words

Hilaria
hilarious
hilariously
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hilarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hilarious. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hilarious

adjective
hi·​lar·​i·​ous hil-ˈar-ē-əs How to pronounce hilarious (audio)
-ˈer-;
hī-ˈlar-, 
-ˈler-
: causing hilarity : wildly funny
hilariously adverb
hilariousness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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