laughed

laughed — verb

1. the past simple and past participle form of the verb laugh — to have shown that

1.verbintransitiveA2
Definition

the past simple and past participle form of the verb laugh — to have shown that you find something funny or that you are happy by making short sounds with your mouth while your face shows a smile.

Example

Yael laughed at the funny cat video with her friends.

laughed at [something] — prepositional object

When João told the funny story, all the children laughed.

subordinate when-clause before main clause

Common collocations
  • laughed at the joke
  • laughed loudly
  • laughed out loud
  • laughed together
  • laughed so hard
  • laughed nervously
  • laughed about something
Synonyms
  • chuckled

    a quieter, softer laugh, often to oneself

  • giggled

    a high-pitched, light laugh, typical of children or embarrassed people

  • roared

    laughed very loudly and with great force

Antonyms
  • cried

    produced tears and sad sounds instead of happy ones

  • frowned

    showed displeasure or thoughtfulness with a serious face, not a smile

Grammar Patterns

laughed + (at/about + object)

laughed + adverb (loudly, together, nervously)

Usage Note

Unlike the present-tense form 'laugh', 'laughed' is used only for completed actions in the past. The form stays the same for all subjects: I laughed, you laughed, she laughed, we laughed, they laughed. In everyday speech and writing, 'laughed' is often paired with the prepositions 'at' (the thing that caused the laughter) or 'about' (the general situation).

Common Mistakes

I laught at the joke.
I laughed at the joke.
'laught' is not a valid English word; the correct past tense of 'laugh' is 'laughed'.
He laughed to my joke.
He laughed at my joke.
'laugh' requires the preposition 'at', not 'to', when referring to the thing that caused amusement.

Word family

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • so hard that
  • out loud
  • until it hurts

Prepositions