Pun

Pronunciation: /pʌn/

Definitions of pun

noun a play on words that produces a humorous effect by using a word that suggests two or more meanings or by exploiting similar sounding words with different meanings

Example Sentences

A1 I told a pun to my friend and he laughed.

A2 The comedian's puns were clever and made the audience chuckle.

B1 She enjoys puns and often incorporates them into her conversations.

B2 The pun in the advertisement was so clever that it stuck in my mind.

C1 His ability to come up with witty puns on the spot is truly impressive.

C2 The writer's use of puns throughout the novel added an extra layer of humor and depth to the story.

Examples of pun in a Sentence

formal The comedian's clever puns had the audience in stitches.

informal I love it when you make puns, they always make me laugh.

slang That pun was so corny, but I couldn't help but chuckle.

figurative His puns were like little puzzles, waiting to be solved.

Grammatical Forms of pun

• past tense: punned
• plural: puns
• comparative: punnier
• superlative: punniest
• present tense: puns
• future tense: will pun
• perfect tense: have punned
• continuous tense: is punning
• singular: pun
• positive degree: pun
• infinitive: to pun
• gerund: punning
• participle: punning

Origin and Evolution of pun

First Known Use: 1670 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'pun' originates from the English language and is believed to have been derived from the Italian word 'puntiglio', meaning a fine point or quibble.

Evolution of the word: Initially, puns were considered a form of wordplay that involved a play on words with multiple meanings or similar sounds. Over time, puns have evolved to be used for comedic effect or to create clever wordplay in literature, jokes, and everyday conversation.