really funny

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "really funny" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that causes laughter or amusement, often emphasizing the degree of humor. Example: "The comedian's jokes were really funny, and the audience couldn't stop laughing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's really funny.

University of California, Berkeley

"He's really funny".

Independent

Not really funny.

Independent

It was actually really funny.

University of California, Berkeley

That's really funny, actually.

The Guardian - Music

But it's really funny".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

You're really funny.

The New York Times

"It's not really funny.

The New York Times

Which is really funny.

The New York Times - Arts

"That's really funny.

The New York Times - Sports

They're really, really funny".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing. While "really funny" is versatile, more formal contexts might benefit from words with higher formality.

Common error

Avoid using "really funny" in highly formal documents, such as academic papers or professional reports. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms like "exceptionally amusing" or "remarkably humorous" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "really funny" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where 'really' modifies and intensifies the adjective 'funny'. This construction strengthens the description of something as humorous. Ludwig confirms its standard grammatical structure and frequent use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "really funny" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a strong sense of amusement. As noted by Ludwig, it functions as an intensifier modifying the adjective 'funny', and is most frequently encountered in news and media contexts. While appropriate for many situations, it may be too informal for academic or professional writing, where synonyms like "exceptionally amusing" might be more suitable. The phrase is well-supported by numerous examples from reputable sources, confirming its validity and broad acceptance in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hilarious

This single word conveys a high degree of funniness.

utterly hilarious

Adds emphasis to the level of funniness.

uproariously funny

Suggests the humor provokes loud and unrestrained laughter.

extremely amusing

Emphasizes the level of amusement derived from something.

exceptionally amusing

Implies that the level of amusement is above average.

sidesplitting

Suggests something is so funny it causes intense laughter.

genuinely funny

Highlights that the humor is authentic and not forced.

remarkably funny

Indicates the humor is noteworthy or surprising.

very amusing

A more straightforward alternative, simply intensifying "amusing".

comical

Describes something characterized by humor or absurdity.

FAQs

How can I use "really funny" in a sentence?

You can use "really funny" to describe something that evokes laughter, like "That movie was "really funny"", or to describe a person with a great sense of humor, like "She's a "really funny" person".

What are some alternatives to "really funny"?

Some alternatives to "really funny" include "hilarious", "extremely amusing", or "sidesplitting", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "really funny" appropriate for formal writing?

While "really funny" is perfectly acceptable in informal and conversational contexts, it may be too casual for formal writing. In those cases, consider using more sophisticated alternatives such as "exceptionally amusing" or "remarkably humorous".

What's the difference between "funny" and "really funny"?

"Funny" simply indicates that something is humorous. Adding "really" intensifies the degree of humor, emphasizing that something is particularly amusing or laughter-inducing.