hilarious
English
Etymology
From Latin hilaris (“cheerful”), from Ancient Greek ἱλαρός (hilarós, “cheerful, merry”), from ἵλαος (hílaos, “propitious, gracious, kind”).
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /hɪˈlɛəɹiəs/
- (General American) IPA(key): /hɪˈlɛ(ə)ɹiəs/
- (New England) IPA(key): /hɪˈlæɹiəs/
(Mary–marry–merry distinction) (New England)Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɛəɹiəs
Adjective
hilarious (comparative more hilarious, superlative most hilarious)
- Very funny; causing great merriment and laughter.
- a hilarious joke
- Full of hilarity; merry.
- 1944, Douglas Stewart, A Girl with Red Hair, and Other Stories, page 60:
- 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."
- 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:
- 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.
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Synonyms
- See also Thesaurus:funny
Derived terms
- hilarity
- hilariously
- hilariousness
Related terms
- exhilarate
- exhilaration
- Hilary
Translations
very funny; causing great merriment and laughter
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