What does laughingly mean?
Laughingly is an adverb describing something done in a humorous, amused, or joking manner. It commonly appears with verbs such as said, suggested, replied, and dismissed, showing that a remark or action was intended as funny or was accompanied by laughter. For example, someone might say that they laughingly pretended to be offended, or that a speaker laughingly brushed aside a serious question. The word is not a synonym for simply laughing: it emphasizes the style, tone, or humorous intent of an action or remark. It is often mildly informal, although it can also appear in writing or formal speech when reporting playful behavior. Derived from laugh, laughingly belongs to a family including laughing and laughter, and its closely related adjective form, laughable, describes something capable of provoking laughter.
adverbIn a way that is funny or causes laughter; with a humorous or amused tone.
- In a humorous or amusing manner.
"He laughingly pretended to be surprised by the joke."
"She laughingly dismissed the rumor as ridiculous."
"The speaker laughingly referred to the delay as a “strategic pause.”"
Laughingly turns laughter into an adverb, letting you describe both a humorous manner and a reaction that suggests something is being treated as a joke.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does laughingly come from?
Laughingly is formed from the present participle laughing and the adverbial suffix -ly. Both elements ultimately relate to the Old English root behind laugh and laughter. The adverb has long been used to describe remarks or actions made in a humorous or amused manner, and its meaning has remained largely unchanged.
Related word forms
How laughingly is actually used
Laughingly is usually humorous and mildly informal in tone, though it can be used in formal contexts when describing a speaker's amused or joking manner.
Easily confused with laughingly
Laughingly describes the manner or tone of laughter, whereas laughably means worthy of being laughed at or capable of provoking laughter.