amuse himself with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amuse himself with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an activity or pastime that someone engages in for enjoyment or entertainment. Example: "In his free time, he likes to amuse himself with various puzzles and games."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Guardian - Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Linklater luxuriates in Cloten's fantastic awfulness, but finds plenty to amuse himself with worthy Posthumus, too.

The Guardian

leaving him to amuse himself with the cameras, tape recorder, & transistor radio that they have substituted for their love and interest.

The New Yorker

He raced from room to room of their tiny apartment, desperately looking for ways to amuse himself with pillows, a Mickey Mouse doll and a Spiderman action figure.

The New York Times

There's a defiant late-period wooziness here, an infectious aura of play and pleasure and unembarrassed showmanship from an artist quite happy to amuse himself with scenes of nubile archaeologists being strangled by their own large intestines.

The New York Times

Sometimes Nils would amuse himself with the notion that if he had a son, he would teach him how to hold a hammer, how to drive in screws, and how to chop down trees.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He amuses himself with examples of repression's unintended consequences.

The New York Times - Arts

Harry (born Hari), the disaffected husband in "Independence," amuses himself with English detective novels, Urdu poetry and vodka.

The New York Times - Books

Capt Scoresby, when his ship was frozen for months in the Polar Sea, amused himself with making powerful magnets, beginning in this method with some common iron bars.

Princeton University

Between 1766 and 1769 Boswell amused himself with various well-hedged schemes of marriage, maintaining meantime a liaison with a young Mrs. Dodds.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"In my head I ran all the companies," Mikko Nissinen, 49, said, explaining the game he had amused himself with since he was a young dancer.

The New York Times - Arts

As usual, he painted all night long, then amused himself with fishing and the intermittent composition of a picaresque novel, autobiographical in nature.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "amuse himself with", ensure that the context clearly indicates a lighthearted or entertaining activity that someone is engaging in for their own pleasure.

Common error

Avoid using "amuse himself with" in highly formal or serious contexts where a more neutral term like "occupy" or "engage" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "amuse himself with" functions as a verb phrase that describes an activity someone engages in for their own enjoyment or to pass time. It indicates a deliberate choice to find pleasure or distraction in a particular activity, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Guardian - Books

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "amuse himself with" is a grammatically sound and acceptably used verb phrase that describes someone engaging in an activity for enjoyment or distraction. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and academic settings. Although not extremely frequent, it serves well to convey intentional and pleasurable engagement in an activity. Consider alternatives like "entertain himself with" or "occupy himself with" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entertain himself with

Focuses more on providing enjoyment and less on passing time.

occupy himself with

Highlights the act of keeping busy and less on the enjoyment derived.

distract himself with

Emphasizes diverting attention from something, rather than pure enjoyment.

beguile himself with

Suggests a more charming or deceptive form of amusement.

divert himself with

Implies turning away from seriousness towards something lighter.

indulge himself with

Suggests a more luxurious or unrestrained form of amusement.

fill his time with

Focuses on using time, not necessarily with pleasurable activities.

keep himself busy with

Highlights the avoidance of idleness more than the enjoyment.

pass the time with

Directly indicates spending time, often when bored or waiting.

find amusement in

Shifts the focus to the source of the amusement rather than the activity itself.

FAQs

What does "amuse himself with" mean?

The phrase "amuse himself with" means to entertain or occupy oneself with something enjoyable or interesting.

How can I use "amuse himself with" in a sentence?

You can use "amuse himself with" to describe how someone spends their time enjoyably, like: "During his vacation, he chose to "entertain himself with" reading novels and exploring the local sites."

What are some alternatives to "amuse himself with"?

Alternatives include "entertain himself with", "occupy himself with", or "distract himself with", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "amuse himself with" and "entertain himself with"?

While similar, "amuse himself with" often implies a lighter, less structured form of enjoyment, while "entertain himself with" can refer to more organized or elaborate activities.