amuse one another

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amuse one another" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of entertaining or providing enjoyment to each other in a social context. Example: "During the long winter evenings, we would gather around the fireplace and amuse one another with stories and laughter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

By David Denby There are terrible seasonal movies thrown together in a state of laziness and disgust — for instance, that poisoned plum pudding "Ocean's Twelve," in which the director, Steven Soderbergh, and a dirty-dozen pack of stars amuse one another with how little they care about what they're doing.

The New Yorker

suggest nothing so much as the idle japes of a coterie whose members live to amuse one another.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This might just amuse one sage old crab trawler called Dave, but his observation has legs.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mr. Wackerman has turned it into the sort of skit that one might put together to amuse one's friends and relatives (and which only friends and relatives could find amusing).

The New York Times

It precedes the riders by about one hour and tries to amuse one of the world's largest live, captive audiences with noise, loud music and, above all, attractive young men and women who toss out trinkets, free product samples and empty shopping bags to hold all the junk.

The New York Times - Tech

Amused, one Asian diplomat told them, "I commend to you the virtues of English".

The New York Times

To amuse himself one evening, he puts some water in a glass, covers the rim of the glass with waxed paper, then presses the paper into the water to create a vacuum.

The New Yorker

This summer, they're playing together in Ibiza at the behest of the DJ Pete Tong, a state of affairs that seems simultaneously to horrify and amuse him: one minute he's saying that he "might go down like a turd in a punchbowl", the next that it's going to be great and he's planning on wearing a fishtail dress for the occasion.

The Guardian - Music

The three left behind in peace, to play chess or read or make music – there was a passable piano for Adrian, and Nico had brought his cello – looked at one another in amused perplexity.

The Guardian - Books

Most visitors are amused, though one older gentleman "said 'harrumph' and walked away," he said.

The New York Times

I laughed a lot when writing it (although it is a bit worrying to be so amused by one's own humor).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "amuse one another" when you want to convey that individuals are mutually entertaining each other, suggesting a reciprocal exchange of amusement or lighthearted enjoyment.

Common error

Avoid using "amuse one another" in highly formal or serious writing. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms like "engage", "captivate", or "delight" depending on the intended nuance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "amuse one another" functions as a reciprocal verb phrase, indicating a mutual action of providing amusement. It highlights a shared experience of entertainment, as seen in Ludwig's examples where people "amuse one another with how little they care about what they're doing."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "amuse one another" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe mutual entertainment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English. While relatively infrequent, it commonly appears in news and media contexts. When writing, use it to convey a reciprocal exchange of lighthearted enjoyment, but be mindful of the register; in formal settings, consider alternatives like "entertain each other" or "engage one another". Ludwig examples show it deployed to show people are "amusing one another".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Entertain each other

Focuses on providing entertainment, similar to amusement but can include a broader range of activities.

Delight each other

Emphasizes a higher degree of pleasure and joy compared to simple amusement.

Bring joy to each other

Highlights the emotional impact of making someone happy, more sentimental than simply amusing.

Make each other laugh

Specifically refers to eliciting laughter, a type of amusement.

Keep each other entertained

Suggests an ongoing effort to maintain someone's interest and enjoyment.

Engage one another

Emphasizes active participation and interaction, broader than just amusement.

Distract one another

Focuses on diverting attention, which can be a form of amusement but not always.

Charm one another

Implies using personal qualities to attract and please, a more subtle form of amusement.

Please one another

Focuses on satisfying someone's desires, which may or may not involve amusement.

Indulge each other

Suggests allowing someone to enjoy something pleasurable, a more passive form of amusement.

FAQs

How can I use "amuse one another" in a sentence?

You can use "amuse one another" to describe situations where people are entertaining each other, such as "During the long car ride, the siblings tried to "amuse one another" with jokes and stories".

What's a more formal alternative to "amuse one another"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "entertain each other", "captivate one another", or "engage one another" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Is it appropriate to use "amuse one another" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "amuse one another" might sound too informal for academic writing. Opt for more precise and formal verbs depending on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "amuse one another" and "entertain each other"?

"Entertain each other" is a broader term that encompasses various activities, while ""amuse one another"" specifically refers to providing lighthearted enjoyment or amusement.