Laughs Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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laughs

[læfs ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

in a joyful manner

To make the spontaneous sounds and movements of the face and body that are the instinctive expressions of lively amusement and sometimes also of contempt or derision.

Synonyms

chuckle, giggle, smile.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
chuckle	Used when someone is laughing quietly or to themselves, often in a more subdued, gentle way. He chuckled softly at the clever play on words. Grandpa chuckles every time he tells that story.
giggle	Typically used for light, high-pitched laughs, often associated with being a bit silly or nervous. Often used to describe the laughter of children. The children giggled uncontrollably during the funny movie scene. She giggled nervously when asked about her secret.
smile	Used when someone is expressing happiness with just a facial expression, showing their teeth or just curving their lips upwards. She smiled warmly at the compliment. His smile brightened up the entire room.

Word

Description / Examples

chuckle

Used when someone is laughing quietly or to themselves, often in a more subdued, gentle way.

He chuckled softly at the clever play on words.
Grandpa chuckles every time he tells that story.

giggle

Typically used for light, high-pitched laughs, often associated with being a bit silly or nervous. Often used to describe the laughter of children.

The children giggled uncontrollably during the funny movie scene.
She giggled nervously when asked about her secret.

smile

Used when someone is expressing happiness with just a facial expression, showing their teeth or just curving their lips upwards.

She smiled warmly at the compliment.
His smile brightened up the entire room.

Examples of usage

He laughs at my jokes.
She laughs easily.
They giggled and laughed together.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

expression of joy

The sound of laughing, produced by air so expelled; any similar sound.

Synonyms

chuckle, giggle, smile.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
laughs	Use this word for general situations where someone is expressing joy or amusement with a sound. It can be used in both light-hearted and more intense situations. She laughs out loud at the funny joke. His laugh was contagious, making everyone around join in.
chuckle	This word describes a quiet or suppressed laugh, often used in situations where someone finds something mildly amusing. He couldn't help but chuckle at the clever remark. She gave a little chuckle as she read the funny text message.
giggle	Giggle is typically used for a small, nervous, or silly laugh, often associated with children or when someone is feeling a bit giddy. The children giggled as they played hide and seek. She started to giggle uncontrollably during the serious meeting.
smile	A smile is a facial expression showing happiness or friendliness and does not usually include a sound. It is often used when describing someone's friendliness or happiness without laughter. He greeted her with a warm smile. Her smile lit up the room.

Examples of usage

His laugh was loud and infectious.
I couldn't help but join in the laughter.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'laughs'

The word 'laugh' originated from the Old English word 'hliehhan', which is akin to the Old High German word 'lachan' and the Old Norse word 'hlaekja'. Laughter has been a universal human expression throughout history, often associated with joy, humor, and social bonding.

See also: laugh, laughable, laughably, laughter.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,265, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.

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11262 commensurate
11263 pernicious
11264 obscurity
11265 laughs
11266 ideally
11267 ridden
11268 runner
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