Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Causing laughter or amusement: Describes something that makes people laugh or is humorous.
   • Strange, odd, or unusual: Describes something that is peculiar, suspicious, or not as expected.
   • Experiencing odd bodily sensations: Describes a peculiar or uncomfortable physical feeling.

2. Noun:

   • A joke or an amusing story: An account of an amusing incident, often with a punchline.
   • Comic strips: (Often plural: funnies) A section of a newspaper containing comic strips.

Usage

• As an adjective: Used to describe a person, thing, or situation that is humorous or strange.
• As a noun: Used to refer to a joke or a comic feature.

Examples

• Adjective (Humorous):
  • He told a funny joke that made everyone laugh.
  • That movie was really funny; I couldn't stop giggling.
• Adjective (Strange):
  • There's a funny noise coming from the engine.
  • I had a funny feeling that I was being watched.
• Adjective (Bodily sensation):
  • My arm feels all funny after sleeping on it.
• Noun:
  • She always has a new funny to share at lunch.
  • I read the funnies in the Sunday paper every week.

Advanced Usage

• "Funny business": Dishonest or suspicious activity.
  • The accountant was fired for some funny business with the books.
• "Funny ha-ha" vs. "Funny peculiar": A distinction to clarify the intended meaning. "Funny ha-ha" means humorous, while "funny peculiar" means strange.
  • When I said his behavior was funny, I meant funny peculiar, not funny ha-ha.

Variants and Related Words

• Funnily (adverb): In a strange or amusing manner.
  • Funnily enough, I was just thinking about you.
• Funniness (noun): The quality of being funny.
• Funny bone (noun, idiomatic): The sensitive area on the elbow; also used humorously to refer to a sense of humor.
  • I hit my funny bone on the table.

Synonyms

• Humorous: Amusing, comical.
• Strange: Odd, peculiar, curious, queer, suspicious.
• Amusing: Hilarious, laughable, comical, mirthful.

Antonyms

• Serious: Grave, solemn.
• Normal: Ordinary, usual, expected.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs/Idioms)

• "Feel funny": To feel uncomfortable, ill, or embarrassed.
  • Eating that whole cake made me feel funny.
• "Get funny with (someone)": To start behaving in a disrespectful or uncooperative way.
  • Don't you get funny with me!
• "In a funny way": Strangely or paradoxically.
  • In a funny way, his criticism helped me improve.

Adjective

1. experiencing odd bodily sensations
   • told the doctor about the funny sensations in her chest
2. not as expected
   • there was something fishy about the accident
   • up to some funny business
   • some definitely queer goings-on
   • a shady deal
   • her motives were suspect
   • suspicious behavior
3. beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
   • a curious hybrid accent
   • her speech has a funny twang
   • they have some funny ideas about war
   • had an odd name
   • the peculiar aromatic odor of cloves
   • something definitely queer about this town
   • what a rum fellow
   • singular behavior
4. arousing or provoking laughter
   • an amusing film with a steady stream of pranks and pratfalls
   • an amusing fellow
   • a comic hat
   • a comical look of surprise
   • funny stories that made everybody laugh
   • a very funny writer
   • it would have been laughable if it hadn't hurt so much
   • a mirthful experience
   • risible courtroom antics

Noun

1. an account of an amusing incident (usually with a punch line)
   • she told a funny story
   • she made a funny