What does humored mean?
“Humored” describes a person, place, or manner that is cheerful, good-natured, and friendly. It commonly occurs as “good-humored,” a particularly useful expression because it distinguishes a person's enduring disposition from a momentary feeling of happiness. The related compound “ill-humored” means cross, irritable, or bad-tempered. In another, less common sense, “humored” can mean amused or in good spirits, although this usage often sounds somewhat old-fashioned when the word stands alone. The verb form of “humored” means to please, entertain, or accommodate someone, as in a promise made to keep a child content. American English normally uses “humored,” while British English generally spells the corresponding forms with an additional “u,” as in “humoured” and “good-humoured.” Overall, the word belongs to a familiar vocabulary for discussing temperament, mood, and social character.
Cheerful, good-natured, and amiable; in a less common sense, amused or pleased.
"He was a consistently humored and patient teacher."
Most often encountered in the compounds “good-humored” and “ill-humored.”
To please, entertain, or accommodate someone.
"She humored the restless children by telling them a story."
This sense is chiefly associated with American English; British English usually writes “humoured.”
A good mood is a feeling; a good humor is a personality.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does humored come from?
The word developed from “humor,” which originally referred to the temper or disposition of a person and later came to mean a sense of the comic or a quality of being amusing. “Humored” was formed by adding the adjective suffix “-ed” to indicate possession of that characteristic. The older spelling was “humoured,” while American English simplified it to “humored.” Related English forms include “humorous,” “humorist,” and “humorless,” all based on the same English word.
How humored is actually used
The usual spelling is “humored” in American English and “humoured” in British English. As the past tense of the verb “humor,” the form is especially associated with North American usage. “Good-humored” and “ill-humored” are normally hyphenated when used as compound adjectives.