I. fun 1 S2 W3 /fʌn/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: fun 'to play a trick on' (17-20 centuries) , perhaps from fonne ; ⇨ ↑ fond ]
1 . an experience or activity that is very enjoyable and exciting:
There’s plenty of fun for all the family.
The children were having so much fun, I hated to call them inside.
2 . for fun ( also just for the fun of it ) if you do something for fun, you do it because you enjoy it and not for any other reason:
I simply believe that killing animals for fun is wrong.
Like most people her age, Deborah struck up relationships just for the fun of it.
3 . somebody is (great/good) fun British English used to say that someone is enjoyable to be with because they are happy and amusing:
You’ll like her, darling, she’s great fun.
4 . behaviour that is not serious and shows happiness and enjoyment:
Jan’s always so cheerful and full of fun.
Her sense of fun made her very popular at college.
Evelyn would tease her, but only in fun.
5 . fun and games activities, behaviour etc that are not serious – often used to show disapproval
6 . make fun of somebody/something to make unkind insulting remarks about someone or something:
I’m not making fun of you. I admire what you did.
7 . like fun American English spoken old-fashioned used to say that something is not true or will not happen:
‘I’m going to Barbara’s house.’ ‘Like fun you are! Come and finish your chores first.’
⇨ figure of fun at ↑ figure 1 (12), ⇨ poke fun at at ↑ poke 1 (6)
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have fun
Did you have fun at the party?
▪ join in the fun
The whole village joined in the fun.
▪ something sounds (like) fun (=seems to be enjoyable)
The picnic sounded like fun.
■ adjectives
▪ good fun British English
I never realized what good fun fishing could be.
▪ great fun
The show is great fun for all the family.
▪ harmless fun (=not likely to upset or offend anyone)
The game’s designer says it’s all a bit of harmless fun, but many parents disagree.
■ phrases
▪ something is no fun ( also something is not much fun ) (=something is not at all enjoyable)
Being stuck in a traffic jam for three hours was no fun.
▪ be sb’s idea of fun (=be what someone enjoys doing – used especially when this seems strange to you)
Camping in this rainy weather is not my idea of fun.
▪ be half the fun (=be a very enjoyable part of doing something)
Planning a vacation is half the fun.
▪ a lot of fun ( also lots of fun )
The kids had a lot of fun singing and dancing.
▪ good clean fun British English (=not offensive or not involving sex)
The show is good clean fun for all the family.
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THESAURUS
▪ fun noun [uncountable] especially spoken an experience or activity that is very enjoyable and exciting:
The course was fun.
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Have you ever been windsurfing? It’s really good fun.
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I just want to relax and have some fun.
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It’ll be fun seeing all my old friends again.
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Running around a freezing hockey field isn’t my idea of fun.
▪ enjoyment noun [uncountable] the feeling you get when you enjoy doing something:
I get a lot of enjoyment out of working with young children.
▪ pleasure noun [countable] an experience or activity that makes you feel happy and satisfied:
The game was a pleasure to watch.
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One of her greatest pleasures was walking in the mountains.
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Ted enjoyed the simple pleasures of life: his family, his home, and his garden.
▪ good/great time noun [countable] especially spoken a time when you enjoyed yourself:
The kids all had a great time.
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I remember the good times in Japan.
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Were the 1960s really such great times?
▪ a blast informal a very enjoyable experience – a very informal use:
The trip was a blast!
▪ entertainment noun [uncountable] things such as performances and films which are intended to be enjoyable:
Three musicians provided the entertainment.
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What do you do for entertainment around here?
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They hired two dancers for entertainment.
▪ relaxation noun [uncountable] a way of resting and enjoying yourself:
I play the piano for relaxation.
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Her work left little time for relaxation.
▪ leisure noun [uncountable] the time when you are not working, when you can enjoy yourself – used especially in compounds:
leisure activities
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the leisure industry
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People have more leisure time.
▪ recreation noun [uncountable and countable] formal activities that you do to enjoy yourself:
recreation facilities
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The park is not just a place for recreation.
II. fun 2 S2 W3 BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
1 . enjoyable and amusing:
Try snowboarding – it’s a really fun sport.
a fun day/evening etc
2 . a fun person is enjoyable to be with because they are happy and amusing:
She’s a really fun person to be around.
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THESAURUS
■ describing something you like or enjoy
▪ nice especially spoken pleasant or enjoyable:
Did you have a nice day?
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It was nice to be back home again.
▪ lovely especially British English informal very nice:
We had a lovely time at the beach.
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The hotel was lovely.
▪ fun informal if something is fun, you enjoy it:
The holiday was great fun.
▪ enjoyable giving you pleasure:
We had a very enjoyable evening.
▪ wonderful very enjoyable:
It was a wonderful concert.
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The food was wonderful.
▪ great ( also brilliant British English ) informal very enjoyable:
‘How was the party?’ ‘It was great!’
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We all had a brilliant time.
▪ charming used about something that seems pleasant and has a lot of qualities that make you like it:
a charming little village in the Italian countryside
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I thought the restaurant was rather charming.
▪ delightful formal very pleasant or enjoyable:
There are many delightful walks in the area.
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a delightful evening
▪ pleasurable formal a pleasurable experience or feeling is one that you enjoy:
Shopping in the old city can be a pleasurable experience.
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a pleasurable feeling of relief