humor

noun

hu·mor | \ ˈhyü-mər

, ˈyü-\

Definition of humor

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a normal functioning bodily semifluid or fluid (such as the blood or lymph)

b physiology : a secretion (such as a hormone) that is an excitant of activity

2a in medieval physiology : a fluid or juice of an animal or plant specifically : one of the four fluids entering into the constitution of the body and determining by their relative proportions a person's health and temperament

b : characteristic or habitual disposition or bent : temperament of cheerful humor

c : an often temporary state of mind imposed especially by circumstances was in no humor to listen

d : a sudden, unpredictable, or unreasoning inclination : whim … conceived the humor of impeaching casual passers-by … and wreaking vengeance on them.— Charles Dickens the uncertain humors of nature

3a : that quality which appeals to a sense of the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous : a funny or amusing quality Try to appreciate the humor of the situation.

b : the mental faculty of discovering, expressing, or appreciating the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous : the ability to be funny or to be amused by things that are funny a guy with a great sense of humor

c : something that is or is designed to be comical or amusing The book is a collection of American humor. not a fan of the comedian's brand of humor

out of humor

: out of sorts

humor

verb

humored; humoring\ ˈhyüm-riŋ

, ˈyüm- , ˈhyü-mə- , ˈyü- \

Definition of humor (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to soothe or content (someone) by indulgence : to comply with the temperament or inclinations of The only way to get along with him is to humor him. I know you don't agree, but just humor me.

2 : to adapt oneself to yielding to, and humoring the motion of the limbs and twigs— William Bartram

Other Words from humor Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about humor

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for humor

Noun

wit, humor, irony, sarcasm, satire, repartee mean a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement. wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous. a playful wit humor implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these usually without bitterness. a sense of humor irony applies to a manner of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed. the irony of the title sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound. given to heartless sarcasm satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature. a satire on the Congress repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily. a dinner guest noted for repartee

Verb

indulge, pamper, humor, spoil, baby, mollycoddle mean to show undue favor to a person's desires and feelings. indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires. indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect. pampered by the amenities of modern living humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims. humored him by letting him tell the story spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering. foolish parents spoil their children baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude. babying students by grading too easily mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare. refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

Did You Know?

In the Middle Ages it was believed that a person’s health and disposition were the result of a balance of four fluids in the body. These fluids were called humors, from the Latin word humor, meaning “moisture.” The fluids were blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. If a person had a cheerful disposition, it was said to be a result of an excess of blood. A sluggish disposition was the result of an excess of phlegm. A hot-tempered disposition was said to be caused by an excess of yellow bile, and the disposition of a gloomy person was the result of an excess of black bile. In time, humor came to be used as a general term for “disposition or temperament.” From this developed the sense of “a changeable state of mind” or “mood.” More recently humor has come to refer to something that is funny.

Examples of humor in a Sentence

Noun

He didn't appreciate the humor of the situation. Someday, you'll see the humor in this.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

His ever-present sense of humor will be forever missed, as well as stories about his childhood in Nanticoke and growing up in a Polish family. — courant.com, "John Machung," 31 Aug. 2019 But such setbacks didn’t seem to dampen Booth’s spirit, or his sense of humor. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "The Man Who Transformed a Welsh Town Into a ‘Kingdom’ of Used Books," 29 Aug. 2019

humor

Definition of humor

Synonyms & Antonyms for humor

Choose the Right Synonym for humor

Did You Know?

Examples of humor in a Sentence

WORD OF THE DAY