laughing

English

Etymology

From Middle English lawghynge; equivalent to laugh +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɑːfɪŋ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑːfɪŋ

Noun

laughing (countable and uncountable, plural laughings)

1. The action of the verb to laugh.

Verb

laughing

1. present participle of laugh

Usage notes

As with other present participles, laughing can be used as an adjective:

The Laughing Cavalier

laughing hyena

Likewise, as with other gerunds, laughing can be used as a verbal noun:

Laughing could be heard all the way from the back of the room!

Synonyms

• (as a gerund): hilarity, laughter

Derived terms

• burst out laughing
• die laughing
• laughing academy
• laughing death
• laughing dove
• laughing-eyed
• laughing falcon
• laughing gas
• laughing gear
• laughing-gear
• laughing goose
• laughing group
• laughing gull
• laughing heir
• laughing heir statute
• laughing hyaena
• laughing hyena
• laughing jackass
• laughing kookaburra
• laughing owl
• laughing sickness
• laughing stalk
• laughing-stock
• laughingstock
• laughing stock
• no laughing matter