guffaw

guffaw — verb

1. to suddenly laugh in a loud voice when someone says or does something you find r

1.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

to suddenly laugh in a loud voice when someone says or does something you find ridiculously silly

Example

When Maja said she thought penguins could fly, the whole class guffawed.

guffaw + whole group reaction to absurd claim

Ramón guffawed at his uncle's claim that the moon was made of cheese.

guffaw at + target of laughter

Common collocations
  • guffaw at [someone/something]
  • guffaw loudly
  • make someone guffaw
  • can't help guffawing
Synonyms
  • snicker

    quieter and more secretive; suggests sneering rather than open laughter

  • roar with laughter

    similar volume but usually a positive reaction to something genuinely funny, not a mock at foolishness

Antonyms
  • sigh

    a quiet breath of disappointment or frustration, opposite of loud amusement

Grammar Patterns

guffaw at [someone/something]

Usage Note

Often used with the preposition 'at' to indicate what triggers the laughter. The person or situation being laughed at may feel embarrassed or exposed.

Common Mistakes

She guffawed him for his silly mistake.
She guffawed at his silly mistake.
guffaw is intransitive and cannot take a direct object; use 'at' to introduce the target.

2. to laugh in a noisy, unrestrained way that shows you do not care who hears you

2.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

to laugh in a noisy, unrestrained way that shows you do not care who hears you

Example

Putri guffawed with delight when her sister finally told the full story.

guffaw + with delight — adverbial of manner

The fishermen guffawed loudly as Vikram described his escape from the crocodile.

Common collocations
  • guffaw with delight
  • guffaw loudly
  • guffaw without restraint
Synonyms
  • chortle

    quieter and more joyful; implies satisfaction rather than wild noise

  • howl with laughter

    similar volume but more appropriate for humorous situations, not just boisterous energy

Antonyms
  • whisper

    the quietest form of speech, opposite of loud, unrestrained noise

Grammar Patterns

guffaw + adverbial (of manner)

Usage Note

This sense focuses on the sound and energy of the laugh rather than its cause. The subject is typically a person or group enjoying themselves fully. Less common than the 'laugh at folly' sense.

Common Mistakes

He guffawed quietly behind his book.
He let out a loud guffaw, then tried to hide it.
a guffaw is always loud by definition; a quiet guffaw is a contradiction.

guffaw — noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Guffaw suggests a sudden, loud laugh triggered by something foolish or ridiculous — often at someone else's expense. It is more explosive and less controlled than chortle, which implies quiet, satisfied amusement. Snicker is much quieter and often sneaky — it suggests laughing at someone behind their back or finding something secretly funny, while guffaw is openly audible to everyone nearby. Roar with laughter matches guffaw in volume but is usually a positive, collective reaction to genuine humour rather than a response to someone's mistake. For example, the audience roared at the comedian's clever punchline, but they guffawed awkwardly when a technician tripped over a cable on stage.

guffaw ↗chortlesnickerroar with laughter

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • let out a guffaw
  • burst into a guffaw
  • suppress a guffaw

Prepositions

Etymology

English (imitative)

Guffaw first appeared in English around the early 18th century (about the 1720s). It is thought to be an imitative (onomatopoeic) word — the sound of the word itself echoes the loud, coarse laughter it describes. Some etymologists trace it to Scottish dialects, where 'gawf' was used for a loud laugh.