humour

Everyday

1. The quality of being funny: «The book is full of humour». tree →
2. The ability to see what is funny and to laugh: «a good sense of humour». tree →
3. (verb) To go along with what someone wants to keep them happy, even if you don't agree: «Just humour him». tree →
4. (old) A mood: «in a good humour». tree →

In the lessons

In reading and writing: writers use humour (jokes, puns, silly situations) to entertain. Kind humour makes everyone laugh; hurtful «humour» at someone's expense is unkind. Phrases: «sense of humour», «good humour», «dry humour», «toilet humour».

Examples

• My dad has a great sense of humour. tree →
• The story is full of humour and surprises. tree →
• We use humour to cheer each other up. tree →
• He took the joke with good humour. tree →
• Just humour Grandpa and listen to his old stories again. tree →
• Her humour is clever and kind. tree →
• “Dance away, my little man,” said Peter, who was in high good humour. tree →

Note

Spelling: «humour» in British, Irish, Canadian, Australian and NZ English; «humor» in American English. Adjective: humorous (no u after o in any spelling!). Uncountable: «a lot of humour», not «humours» (except the old medical idea of four humours).