hilarious

From Latin hilaris (“cheerful”), from Ancient Greek ἱλαρός (hilarós, “cheerful, merry”), from ἵλαος (hílaos, “propitious, gracious, kind”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /hɪˈlɛəɹiəs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /hɪˈlɛ(ə)ɹiəs/
• (New England) IPA^(key): /hɪˈlæɹiəs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

  (Mary–marry–merry distinction) (New England)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛəɹiəs

hilarious (comparative more hilarious, superlative most hilarious)

1. Very funny; causing great merriment and laughter.

   a hilarious joke

2. Full of hilarity; merry.
   • 1944, Douglas Stewart, A Girl with Red Hair, and Other Stories, page 60:

     Rounding up the animals in the misty paddocks, with the blackbirds singing as the morning whitened, he felt hilarious, light-headed. He'd clap the cows on their rumps and shout "Come along, there! Come along there, me Irish darlint."

   • 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:

     Cold Doctor Pell here refused a very considerable fee. He could on occasion behave handsomely; but I can't learn that blustering, hilarious Doctor Rogerson ever refused his.

• See also Thesaurus:funny

• hilarity
• hilariously
• hilariousness

• exhilarate
• exhilaration
• Hilary