it was highly amusing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was highly amusing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that was very entertaining or funny in a past context. Example: "The comedian's performance was so clever that it was highly amusing, leaving the audience in stitches."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

He is enough of a jazz buff to have named both of his sons Louis after Louis Armstrong ("It's highly amusing when we go through customs"), and he composed the score for "Stormy Monday" and shares the music credit for "Internal Affairs". He worked with the embryo rock star Brian Ferry in a band called Gas Board and first joined a British experimental theater group, thePeople Show, as a musician.

The New York Times

I agree with the mordant observations on Twitter that it's highly amusing watching the extremist fringes of the Bitcoin community slowly rediscover from first principles exactly why financial regulation exists in the first place.

TechCrunch

One can't dismiss the inter-media gamesmanship that's involved, but it is highly amusing to see Frank turned loose in this manner -- the money-maven WSJ beating up on the Post for going soft on corporate interests.

Huffington Post

This is Politics 101, folks, and the fact that it took Newt Gingrich to point it out to Romney was highly amusing to Lefties everywhere.

Huffington Post

With, among others, porn icon Traci Lords, Rogen, Jason Mewes and Banks on the panel, the night was highly amusing and I can't repeat nearly any of what was spoken here.

Huffington Post

"It would be highly amusing, and a downright lie, if someone else did lay claim to TB's jams," he says.

Vice

Given that charged history, it must have been highly amusing to many on Wall Street to see this banner displayed across Mr. Loeb's instant messaging page on the Bloomberg terminal on Tuesday morning, using the ticker symbol for Herbalife: "New HLF product: The Herbalife Enema administered by Uncle Carl".

The New York Times

With its "cheeky feminist agenda," this odd-couple adventure is "highly amusing" and filled with "haywire energy," Michael Upchurch wrote in the Book Review in 2001.

The New York Times - Books

They are highly amusing, too.

The New York Times - Arts

Benson is highly amusing as Boris, but at first this seems like a cosy, affectionate ribbing.

Independent

These tropes were highly amusing in films like Reservoir Dogs, Snatch, Layer Cake and In Bruges.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was highly amusing" to describe past events or situations that you found particularly funny or entertaining. It adds a touch of formality while still conveying amusement.

Common error

Avoid using "highly amusing" in very casual or informal settings, as it might sound overly formal or stilted. In those situations, consider using simpler alternatives like "it was really funny" or "it cracked me up."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was highly amusing" functions as a declarative statement expressing a past subjective experience of amusement. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Wiki

11%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was highly amusing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe past experiences that were found to be very funny or entertaining. Ludwig confirms its validity, and it is particularly suited for neutral to formal contexts, like news articles and reviews. While versatile, consider using more informal alternatives in very casual settings. The phrase enjoys high frequency in media sources and is well-regarded for conveying a distinct sense of amusement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was very funny

Replaces "highly amusing" with a more common synonym for humorous.

it was quite comical

Substitutes "amusing" with "comical", emphasizing the lighthearted nature of the situation.

it was extremely entertaining

Focuses on the entertaining aspect of the situation, rather than just amusement.

it was a real laugh

Uses a more informal and colloquial expression to describe the amusement.

it was rather delightful

Replaces "amusing" with "delightful", suggesting a more pleasant and charming experience.

it was exceedingly droll

employs 'droll' for a subtly humorous observation.

it provided great amusement

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the act of providing amusement.

it tickled my funny bone

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate that something was found to be very amusing.

it made me chuckle

Indicates a quiet, restrained amusement.

it gave me a good giggle

Emphasizes a light and playful form of amusement.

FAQs

What does "it was highly amusing" mean?

The phrase "it was highly amusing" means that something was very funny, entertaining, or caused a great deal of amusement. It's a way of expressing that you found something particularly humorous or enjoyable.

What can I say instead of "it was highly amusing"?

You can use alternatives like "it was very funny", "it was quite comical", or "it was extremely entertaining" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "it was highly amusing" in formal writing?

Yes, "it was highly amusing" is suitable for formal writing. The word "highly" adds a degree of formality, making it appropriate for professional or academic contexts.

Is "it was amusing" the same as "it was highly amusing"?

Not exactly. "It was amusing" simply means that something was somewhat funny or entertaining. "It was highly amusing" suggests a stronger degree of amusement or entertainment.