a wave of laughter

USAGE SUMMARY

"a wave of laughter" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe a sudden and intense eruption of laughter among a group of people. One example of using this phrase in a sentence could be: "As the comedian told his joke, a wave of laughter swept through the audience, causing everyone to double over in amusement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

A wave of laughter went up again.

The New York Times - Sports

There was a wave of laughter.

The Washington Post

A wave of laughter went through the audience.

The New York Times

Stonewall had to pause here to let a wave of laughter die down.

The New Yorker

"A wave of laughter followed," Mr. Hamilton writes, "much to the discomfort of the cell-phone user".

The New York Times

"To call it a banana republic would be an insult to Central America," Solow said, producing a wave of laughter from the audience.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

A wave of sympathetic laughter rippled through the audience.

Nature

He rode a wave of appreciative laughter to victory.

The New York Times

Cohen's baritone has become deeper and more formidable over the years; the line in Tower of Song - "I was born with the gift of a golden voice" - prompts a wave of knowing laughter and applause.

The Guardian - Music

"In Venice, in the Hotel Danieli, in that large room where Musset and George Sand lived, we made love, our bodies wrapped around each other," he recalled, prompting a wave of embarrassed laughter from his audience.

The New York Times

But instead of feeling humiliation, I thought about everything I'd shared with these lovely people – challenging the notions of failure and making a fool of yourself – and as I started to laugh, and looked up, all I could see was a sea of smiling faces and, seconds later, a wave of hysterical laughter filled the air.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a wave of laughter" to vividly describe a strong, collective reaction of amusement in a scene. It's particularly effective in depicting audience reactions in performances or speeches.

Common error

Avoid using "a wave of laughter" in highly formal or serious contexts. Opt for more neutral language to maintain the appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wave of laughter" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a collective and spreading reaction of amusement. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a standard English expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a wave of laughter" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase that effectively portrays a shared experience of amusement. Ludwig AI confirms its validity as standard English. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for a variety of contexts, particularly news and media, although writers should consider their audience when using it in more formal settings. While alternatives like "a roar of laughter" or "a ripple of laughter" exist, "a wave of laughter" effectively communicates a spreading, collective moment of levity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a roar of laughter

Conveys a loud and boisterous outburst of laughter from a crowd.

an eruption of laughter

Highlights the sudden and explosive nature of the laughter.

a burst of laughter

Suggests a sudden and short outbreak of laughter, emphasizing spontaneity.

a gale of laughter

Emphasizes the unrestrained and forceful nature of the laughter.

a flood of laughter

Suggests an overwhelming and continuous outpouring of laughter.

a ripple of laughter

Indicates a gentler, less intense outbreak of laughter compared to a wave.

a fit of laughter

Describes an uncontrollable and often prolonged bout of laughter.

a chorus of laughter

Focuses on the collective and harmonious nature of the laughter.

a peal of laughter

Implies a loud, ringing, and prolonged instance of laughter.

a spasm of laughter

Implies a sudden, uncontrollable, and convulsive burst of laughter.

FAQs

How can I use "a wave of laughter" in a sentence?

You can use "a wave of laughter" to describe a collective reaction to something funny, for example: "The comedian's joke caused "a wave of laughter" to erupt in the audience".

What can I say instead of "a wave of laughter"?

You can use alternatives like "a roar of laughter", "a burst of laughter", or "a ripple of laughter" depending on the intensity of the laughter you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a wave of laughter" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a wave of laughter" might be perceived as slightly informal for some academic or business contexts. Consider the tone and audience when deciding whether to use it.

What's the difference between "a wave of laughter" and "a fit of laughter"?

"A wave of laughter" describes a collective, spreading reaction, while "a fit of laughter" implies a more personal, uncontrollable outburst.