Laughter
n.joyful, energeticwarm
What it means
The sounds and movements people make when amusement breaks through.
Reach for it when naming shared amusement, comic relief, or audible happiness
Laughter traveled down the hallway before the birthday guests appeared.
Choose between these
7- playful
giggles
the sounds are light, repeated, and informal
not when Giggles trivializes solemn people who briefly share mature humor.
- everyday
the broader atmosphere is bright and encouraging
not when Cheer includes good spirits that need not involve anything funny.
- warm
pleasure, not comedy, is the emotional center
not when Delight can be quiet and does not guarantee laughter.
- professional
humor briefly eases a serious situation
not when Levity names lightness of tone rather than the sound people make.
- formal
the inner reaction matters without implying sound
not when Amusement can remain private and silent.
- literary
the laughter is widespread and hard to contain
not when Hilarity overstates a gentle smile around the table.
- literary
a festive or old-fashioned tone suits collective amusement
not when Mirth sounds unnatural in most everyday accounts.
Said against
3- silence
- sorrow
- solemnity
It naturally appears in
3- burst of laughter
A burst of laughter followed the actor's perfectly timed pause.
- warm laughter
Warm laughter eased the new volunteer into the group.
- shared laughter
Shared laughter softened years of friendly rivalry.
Where this comes from
- merriam-webster, noun sense 1 opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.