has been amusing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been amusing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has provided entertainment or enjoyment over a period of time up to the present. Example: "The series has been amusing, keeping viewers engaged with its clever humor and unexpected twists."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

As a working-class woman, watching their anguish has been amusing.

The Guardian

He has been amusing people with them for years, making silk handkerchiefs disappear by stuffing them into fake thumbs, and tearing up paper that magically mends itself.

The New York Times - Magazine

Adjusting to life after prison has been amusing (automatic flush toilets), confounding (text messages) and encouraging (African-Americans in management jobs).

The New York Times - Sports

Unlike in Switzerland, nothing is being done to have this money repatriated to Nigeria.CHRISTIAN KÄLINZurichCensoredSIR Readers in Saudi Arabia have the added weekly enjoyment of discovering how the local censor has been amusing himself.

The Economist

Meet Arto Paasilinna, a novelist of the picaresque who has been amusing Finns for 30 years and, later, other readers in the 25 languages into which his works have been translated.

The New York Times - Books

Photograph: Tristram Kenton The affair of Nick Hytner versus the "dead white men" of the critical establishment has been amusing, up to a point, but I'm surely not the only one to feel baffled that this sideshow has been allowed to overshadow the main event.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

It had been amusing then, but this overwhelmed him.

The New Yorker

Fictional diaries have been amusing and entertaining us since the modern novel's early days.

The Guardian - Books

A picture of Danny carrying Brian out of the club in the early hours might have been amusing.

The Guardian - Sport

Even with Henry Pyrgos and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne snapping at his heels, the 29-year-old said there have been amusing moments.

The Guardian - Sport

It was a sight that would have been amusing if it were not for the large, potentially lacerating bling garnishing every other finger.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been amusing" to describe events, situations, or behaviors that have consistently provided lighthearted entertainment or enjoyment over a period. It suggests a sustained, rather than momentary, source of amusement.

Common error

Avoid using "has been amusing" in contexts involving serious or tragic events. The phrase implies lightheartedness and may be inappropriate when discussing sensitive topics.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been amusing" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action or state that started in the past and continues to the present, highlighting its ongoing nature. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been amusing" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase that describes something providing lighthearted entertainment or enjoyment continuously up to the present. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. While not extremely common, it appears regularly in news and media sources, indicating a neutral register. Related phrases include "has been entertaining" and "has been enjoyable", offering alternative ways to express similar sentiments. When using this phrase, be mindful of the context, avoiding its use in serious or tragic situations. The frequency of "has been amusing" is uncommon, with primary usage in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been entertaining

Replaces "amusing" with "entertaining", focusing on providing enjoyment and capturing attention.

has been enjoyable

Substitutes "amusing" with "enjoyable", highlighting the pleasant and satisfying nature of the experience.

has been a source of amusement

Rephrases to emphasize the origin of the amusement, indicating something has consistently provided amusement.

has been comical

Replaces "amusing" with "comical", specifically pointing out the humorous or funny aspect.

has been a delight

Changes the structure to focus on the delightful nature, implying something has been very pleasing.

has provided amusement

Shifts the focus to the act of providing amusement, emphasizing the active role of the subject.

has been a laughing matter

Highlights that something has been considered lighthearted and suitable for laughter.

has been funny

Uses the simpler adjective "funny" instead of "amusing", making it more informal.

has tickled my funny bone

Idiomatic expression to suggest something has caused amusement or laughter.

has sparked amusement

Focuses on the initiation of amusement, suggesting something has caused amusement to begin.

FAQs

How can I use "has been amusing" in a sentence?

Use "has been amusing" to describe something that has provided entertainment or enjoyment over a period of time. For example, "Watching the political debates "has been amusing", although sometimes concerning."

What can I say instead of "has been amusing"?

You can use alternatives like "has been entertaining", "has been enjoyable", or "has been a source of amusement" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had been amusing" instead of "has been amusing"?

While both are grammatically correct, "had been amusing" refers to something that was amusing in the past but may no longer be so, whereas "has been amusing" indicates it continues to be amusing up to the present.

What is the difference between "amusing" and "funny"?

"Amusing" suggests something is lightly entertaining or diverting, while "funny" generally implies something is laugh-out-loud hilarious. Something ""has been amusing"" may not necessarily be "funny", but something very funny is likely also amusing.