humorous

English

Etymology

From Middle English humorous (compare Medieval Latin hūmorōsus), equivalent to humor +‎ -ous.

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: hyo͞o'mərəs, IPA^(key): /ˈhjuːməɹəs/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈhjuːməɹɪs/
• Rhymes: (UK) -uːməɹəs
• Homophone: humerus

Adjective

humorous (comparative more humorous, superlative most humorous)

1. Full of humor or arousing laughter; funny.

   The waiters were so humorous - one even did a backflip for us, when we asked him.

   • Full definition

     Containing the maximum possible amount that can fit in the space available. (1 of 16 full definitions)

   • Humor definition

     US spelling of humour

   • Arousing definition

     present participle of arouse

   • Laughter definition

     The sound of laughing, produced by air so expelled; any similar sound. (1 of 3 laughter definitions)

   • Funny definition

     Amusing; humorous; comical. (1 of 4 funny definitions)

   • Backflip definition

     An act of rotating one's body 360 degrees in the backward direction. (1 of 2 backflip definitions)
2. Showing humor; witty, jocular.

   • Showing definition

     present participle of show

   • Witty definition

     Wise, having good judgement. (1 of 5 witty definitions)

   • Jocular definition

     Humorous, amusing or joking.
3. (obsolete) Damp or watery.

   • Damp definition

     In a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist. (1 of 3 damp definitions)

   • Watery definition

     Resembling or characteristic of water. (1 of 7 watery definitions)
4. (obsolete) Dependent on or caused by one's humour or mood; capricious, whimsical.
   • c. 1598–1600, 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 606515358, [Act I, scene ii], lines 380-83:

     [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.

   • 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 946730821, page 212:

     It is a melancholy humor […] that firſt put this humorous conceipt [translating resverie] of writing into my head.

   • 1861, Elizabeth Gaskell, The Grey Woman

     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.

   • Humour definition

     The quality of being amusing, comical, funny. (1 of 6 humour definitions)

   • Mood definition

     A mental or emotional state, composure. (1 of 7 mood definitions)

   • Capricious definition

     Impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim.

   • Whimsical definition

     Given to whimsy.

   • Resverie definition

     daydream

Usage notes

While the spelling humour is preferred over humor in British English, humorous is standard in both American and British English, and humourous is nonstandard.

Synonyms

• (arousing laughter): amusing, funny
• (witty): amusing, jocular, witty
• See also Thesaurus:funny
• See also Thesaurus:witty

Derived terms

• humorously

Related terms

• humor, humour

Translations