From Middle English fonne, fon (“foolish, simple, silly”) or fonnen (“make a fool of”), from Middle English fonne (“a fool, dupe”), probably of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish fånig (“foolish”), Swedish fåne (“a fool”), from Old Norse fáni (“vain person, swaggerer”), but of unknown ultimate origin. Perhaps related to or influenced by fjäll (“rock, cliff, mountain”). Compare also English fumble, Norwegian Nynorsk fomme (“clumsy fool”).
Compare also Norwegian fomme, fume (“a fool”). More at fon, fond.
As a noun, fun is recorded from 1700, with a meaning “a cheat, trick, hoax”, from a verb fun meaning “to cheat, trick” (1680s). The meaning “diversion, amusement” dates to the 1720s. The older meaning is preserved in the phrase to make fun of (1737) and in usage of the adjective funny. The use of fun as adjective is newest and is due to reanalysis of the noun; this was incipient in the mid-19th century.
Alternative etymology connected Middle English fonne with Old Frisian fonna, fone, fomne, variant forms of fāmne, fēmne (“young woman, virgin”), from Proto-West Germanic *faimnijā, from Proto-Germanic *faimnijǭ (“maiden”), from Proto-Indo-European *peymen- (“girl”), *poymen- (“breast milk”). If so, then cognate with Old English fǣmne (“maid, virgin, damsel, bride”), West Frisian famke (“girl”), Saterland Frisian fone, fon (“woman, maid, servant," also "weakling, simpleton”).
Meanings
Enjoyable or amusing.
He's the liberated character that everyone wants to be, so he was very fun to play 2016 January 11, Tom Bateman, quoted in Nigel Hunt, "Jekyll and Hyde, TV revamp of Robert Louis Stevenson classic, debuts on CBC-TV" CBC News, Canada
He is such a fun person to be with.
We had a fun time at the party.
(informal) Whimsical or flamboyant.
This year's fashion style is much more fun than recent seasons.
From Middle English fonne, fon (“foolish, simple, silly”) or fonnen (“make a fool of”), from Middle English fonne (“a fool, dupe”), probably of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish fånig (“foolish”), Swedish fåne (“a fool”), from Old Norse fáni (“vain person, swaggerer”), but of unknown ultimate origin. Perhaps related to or influenced by fjäll (“rock, cliff, mountain”). Compare also English fumble, Norwegian Nynorsk fomme (“clumsy fool”).
Compare also Norwegian fomme, fume (“a fool”). More at fon, fond.
As a noun, fun is recorded from 1700, with a meaning “a cheat, trick, hoax”, from a verb fun meaning “to cheat, trick” (1680s). The meaning “diversion, amusement” dates to the 1720s. The older meaning is preserved in the phrase to make fun of (1737) and in usage of the adjective funny. The use of fun as adjective is newest and is due to reanalysis of the noun; this was incipient in the mid-19th century.
Alternative etymology connected Middle English fonne with Old Frisian fonna, fone, fomne, variant forms of fāmne, fēmne (“young woman, virgin”), from Proto-West Germanic *faimnijā, from Proto-Germanic *faimnijǭ (“maiden”), from Proto-Indo-European *peymen- (“girl”), *poymen- (“breast milk”). If so, then cognate with Old English fǣmne (“maid, virgin, damsel, bride”), West Frisian famke (“girl”), Saterland Frisian fone, fon (“woman, maid, servant," also "weakling, simpleton”).
Meanings
(uncountable) Amusement, enjoyment or pleasure.
Grafting your boss's face onto the hind end of a donkey is fun, but serious fun is when you create the impossible and it looks real. 2000, Robert Stanley, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Adobe Photoshop 6, Alpha Books, page 377:
(uncountable) Playful, often noisy, activity.
Deriveds
antifun (With prefixes) · type I fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · funsies (With suffixes) · it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · fun bags (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · funfair (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · fun day (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · fun-maker (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · funspirational (Blends) · type III fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · fun lover (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · fun house (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · funsome (With suffixes) · figure of fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · fungineer (Blends) · poke fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · funtivity (Blends) · have fun with (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · no fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · funny (With suffixes) · funfetti (Blends) · type II fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · like fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · no fun at parties (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · poke one's fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · funlessness (With suffixes) · fun-sized (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · in fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · make fun of (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · funtastic (Blends) · for fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · funster (With suffixes) · unfun (With prefixes) · for the fun of it (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · funcle (Blends) · fun-size (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · funless → funlessly (With suffixes) · funboard (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · fun on a bun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · every good boy deserves fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · fun park (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · funemployment (Blends) · time flies when you're having fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · barrel of fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · fungenda (Blends) · fun running (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · funbags (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · fun and games (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · good fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · funfest (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · just for fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · funplex (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · fun fund (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · fun-lover (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · funtabulous (Blends) · funbox (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · fun up (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · funfilled (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · funhouse (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · fun-loving (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · fun police (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · fun in a bun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · funmaker (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · funishment (Blends) · fun size (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · fun sponge (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · fun runner (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · great fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · fun pack (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · funemployed (Blends) · fun run (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term at the beginning) · funalicious (With suffixes) · have fun (Terms derived from fun (noun), with this term in the middle or at the end) · fungasm (Blends)
cmn 玩 (playful, often noisy, activity) · nl pret (playful, often noisy, activity) · nl lol (enjoyment or amusement) · th ความสนุก (enjoyment or amusement) · de Gaudi (enjoyment or amusement) · lv jautri (enjoyment or amusement) · hy զվարճանք (playful, often noisy, activity) · ar مَرَح (enjoyment or amusement) · cmn 熱鬧 /热闹 (playful, often noisy, activity) · apc تسلية (enjoyment or amusement) · ru поте́ха (enjoyment or amusement) · ja 遊び (enjoyment or amusement) · he כֵּיף (enjoyment or amusement) · ur مزہ (enjoyment or amusement) · nl plezier (enjoyment or amusement) · no moro (playful, often noisy, activity) · ang gamen (playful, often noisy, activity) · ru развлече́ние (enjoyment or amusement) · hu tréfa (enjoyment or amusement) · as আমোদ (enjoyment or amusement) · cmn 玩 (enjoyment or amusement) · nl plezier (playful, often noisy, activity) · ru весе́лье (enjoyment or amusement) · no moro (enjoyment or amusement) · uk заба́ва (enjoyment or amusement) · de Vergnügen (enjoyment or amusement) · sv skoj (enjoyment or amusement) · el κέφι (enjoyment or amusement) · eo ŝercado (enjoyment or amusement) · ka გართობა (enjoyment or amusement) · ota جنبش (enjoyment or amusement) · ga spraoi (enjoyment or amusement) · fr amusement (enjoyment or amusement) · mk разонода (enjoyment or amusement) · ar تَرْفِيه (enjoyment or amusement) · vo cog (enjoyment or amusement) · it divertimento (enjoyment or amusement) · cmn 熱鬧 /热闹 (enjoyment or amusement) · aeb جَوّ (enjoyment or amusement) · ro distracție (enjoyment or amusement) · yi שפּאַס (enjoyment or amusement) · hu muri (enjoyment or amusement) · pt diversão (enjoyment or amusement) · sh zȃbava (enjoyment or amusement) · it allegria (playful, often noisy, activity) · es divertimiento (enjoyment or amusement) · ta உல்லாசம் (enjoyment or amusement) · ru заба́ва (enjoyment or amusement) · lld hez (enjoyment or amusement) · ota كیف (enjoyment or amusement) · tl saya (enjoyment or amusement) · aeb شِيخَة (enjoyment or amusement) · es trebejo (enjoyment or amusement) · pdt Spos (playful, often noisy, activity) · pl ubaw (enjoyment or amusement) · la delicia (enjoyment or amusement) · hy հաճույք (enjoyment or amusement) · ckb بۆ ھەوەس (enjoyment or amusement) · hu móka (enjoyment or amusement) · ga aiteas (enjoyment or amusement) · el κέφι (playful, often noisy, activity) · pt divertimento (enjoyment or amusement) · ta ஜாலி (enjoyment or amusement) · vls leute (enjoyment or amusement) · hu szórakozás (enjoyment or amusement) · de Amüsement (enjoyment or amusement) · fi hauskanpito (playful, often noisy, activity) · de Spaß (enjoyment or amusement) · ang blēofæstnes (enjoyment or amusement) · pt divertimento (playful, often noisy, activity) · ajp تَرْفِيه (enjoyment or amusement) · de Vergnügung (enjoyment or amusement) · nl lol (playful, often noisy, activity) · hu poén (enjoyment or amusement) · ta வேடிக்கை (enjoyment or amusement) · as ধেমালি (enjoyment or amusement) · bn ফুর্তি (enjoyment or amusement) · is gaman (enjoyment or amusement) · ar تَرْفِيه (enjoyment or amusement) · uk поті́ха (enjoyment or amusement) · it svago (playful, often noisy, activity) · tr eğlence (enjoyment or amusement) · ro divertisment (enjoyment or amusement) · ckb ھەوەس (playful, often noisy, activity) · ko 재미 (enjoyment or amusement) · he הֲנָאָה (enjoyment or amusement) · lb Spaass (enjoyment or amusement) · ota رامش (enjoyment or amusement) · bg забава (enjoyment or amusement) · ja 楽しみ (enjoyment or amusement) · mt gost (enjoyment or amusement) · gd fealla-dhà (enjoyment or amusement) · hy ուրախություն (enjoyment or amusement) · lt linksma (enjoyment or amusement) · et lõbus (enjoyment or amusement) · ja 面白さ (enjoyment or amusement) · hu mulatság (playful, often noisy, activity) · ro plăcere (enjoyment or amusement) · sh próvod (enjoyment or amusement) · ca diversió (enjoyment or amusement) · es gracia (enjoyment or amusement) · ga áibhéar (enjoyment or amusement) · ar تَسْلِيَة (enjoyment or amusement) · ajp تسلية (enjoyment or amusement) · hu mulatság (enjoyment or amusement) · ckb رابواردن (enjoyment or amusement) · nv zhǫʼ (enjoyment or amusement) · fa سرگرمی (enjoyment or amusement) · gd dibhearsan (playful, often noisy, activity) · cs legrace (enjoyment or amusement) · ga spórt (enjoyment or amusement) · bg веселие (enjoyment or amusement) · hi मज़ा (enjoyment or amusement) · da sjov (enjoyment or amusement) · lb Amüsement (enjoyment or amusement) · cmn 樂趣 /乐趣 (enjoyment or amusement) · es diversión (enjoyment or amusement) · bg веселие (playful, often noisy, activity) · ro amuzament (enjoyment or amusement) · es divertimento (enjoyment or amusement) · la lūdus (playful, often noisy, activity) · pl zabawa (playful, often noisy, activity) · hu mulatozás (playful, often noisy, activity) · as উলাহ-বিলাহ (enjoyment or amusement) · gd spòrs (playful, often noisy, activity) · pl radość (enjoyment or amusement) · da morskab (enjoyment or amusement) · mk забава (enjoyment or amusement) · ms seronok (enjoyment or amusement) · uk розва́га (enjoyment or amusement) · ang plega (playful, often noisy, activity) · gd spòrs (enjoyment or amusement) · fi hauskuus (enjoyment or amusement) · ta மஜா (enjoyment or amusement) · pdt Spos (enjoyment or amusement) · cs zábava (enjoyment or amusement) · nl pret (enjoyment or amusement) · ga craic (enjoyment or amusement) · bn মজা (enjoyment or amusement)
From Middle English fonne, fon (“foolish, simple, silly”) or fonnen (“make a fool of”), from Middle English fonne (“a fool, dupe”), probably of North Germanic origin, related to Swedish fånig (“foolish”), Swedish fåne (“a fool”), from Old Norse fáni (“vain person, swaggerer”), but of unknown ultimate origin. Perhaps related to or influenced by fjäll (“rock, cliff, mountain”). Compare also English fumble, Norwegian Nynorsk fomme (“clumsy fool”).
Compare also Norwegian fomme, fume (“a fool”). More at fon, fond.
As a noun, fun is recorded from 1700, with a meaning “a cheat, trick, hoax”, from a verb fun meaning “to cheat, trick” (1680s). The meaning “diversion, amusement” dates to the 1720s. The older meaning is preserved in the phrase to make fun of (1737) and in usage of the adjective funny. The use of fun as adjective is newest and is due to reanalysis of the noun; this was incipient in the mid-19th century.
Alternative etymology connected Middle English fonne with Old Frisian fonna, fone, fomne, variant forms of fāmne, fēmne (“young woman, virgin”), from Proto-West Germanic *faimnijā, from Proto-Germanic *faimnijǭ (“maiden”), from Proto-Indo-European *peymen- (“girl”), *poymen- (“breast milk”). If so, then cognate with Old English fǣmne (“maid, virgin, damsel, bride”), West Frisian famke (“girl”), Saterland Frisian fone, fon (“woman, maid, servant," also "weakling, simpleton”).
Meanings
(colloquial) To tease, kid, poke fun at, make fun of.
Hey, don't get bent out of shape over it; I was just funning you.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
funned
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
funned
Tense=Past
lexicographic
funning
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
funs
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
Relateds
mei fun (etymologically unrelated multiword terms containing "fun") · hor fun (etymologically unrelated multiword terms containing "fun") · chow fun (etymologically unrelated multiword terms containing "fun") · cheong fun (etymologically unrelated multiword terms containing "fun")