laughing
UK: ˈlɑːfɪŋ | US: ˈlæfɪŋ
adj. showing amusement or joy through laughter
n. the act or sound of laughing
v. present participle of laugh (to express mirth or joy with vocal sounds)
The root laugh traces back to Old English hlæhhan, of Germanic origin, imitative of the sound of laughter. The -ing suffix, also from Old English -ung, forms present participles or verbal nouns. The word’s evolution reflects the universal human expression of joy through vocalized sounds, with its spelling and structure remaining consistent across centuries.
The children were laughing loudly at the clown’s antics.
Her laughing eyes brightened the room.
The sound of laughing echoed through the hallway.
He couldn’t help laughing at the unexpected joke.
Lifting their spirits, her laughing voice was contagious.