bemused
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Perplexed, bewildered, or confused: The state of being puzzled, uncertain, or mentally confused, often due to encountering something surprising, complex, or contradictory.
- Deeply absorbed in thought; preoccupied: The state of being so lost in one's own thoughts as to be unaware of one's surroundings or inattentive to external events.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective (Perplexed):
- The complex instructions left the students looking bemused.
- She gave a bemused smile when presented with the unexpected gift.
- Adjective (Absorbed in thought):
- He sat in the corner with a bemused expression, oblivious to the noise around him.
- The professor had a bemused air, as if pondering a difficult problem.
Advanced Usage
- "to be bemused by something": to be confused or puzzled by something.
- The audience was bemused by the abstract performance.
- "with a bemused look/expression/smile": showing a state of confusion or deep thought through one's facial expression.
- He listened to the explanation with a bemused look.
Variants and Related Words
- Bemuse (verb): To cause someone to be puzzled or confused; to preoccupy or absorb in thought.
- The magician's trick bemused the entire audience.
- Bemusement (noun): The state of being bemused; puzzlement or preoccupation.
- His strange question was met with general bemusement.
Synonyms
- Perplexed: Completely baffled or puzzled.
- Bewildered: Confused and indecisive; puzzled.
- Puzzled: Unable to understand; perplexed.
- Preoccupied: Engrossed in thought; distracted.
- Absent-minded: Inattentive or forgetful due to being engaged in thought.
Antonyms
- Clear-headed: Thinking clearly; not confused.
- Alert: Fully aware and attentive.
- Unperturbed: Not concerned or worried; calm.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Lost in thought: So absorbed in thinking that one is unaware of other things. (This is a near equivalent for the "preoccupied" sense of ).
- She was lost in thought and didn't hear her name called.
Adjective
- perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
- obviously bemused by his questions
- bewildered and confused
- a cloudy and confounded philosopher
- just a mixed-up kid
- she felt lost on the first day of school
- deeply absorbed in thought
- as distant and bemused as a professor listening to the prattling of his freshman class
- lost in thought
- a preoccupied frown