The children laughed happily at the funny joke.

Meaning: This sentence is describing a group of children who are enjoying a joke and expressing their amusement through laughter.

Choice of Words: Laughed is a past tense of the verb laugh, which means to make sounds expressing amusement. Happily is an adverb describing the manner in which the children laughed. Funny describes the nature of the joke that caused the laughter.

Alternative Expressions

The kids giggled with delight at the hilarious quip.

Meaning: This sentence describes a group of children who were expressing great pleasure and satisfaction by making light, high-pitched laughs in response to a very funny or amusing remark.

Choice of Words: Kids is a more informal way to refer to children. Giggled describes a light, high-pitched laugh. With delight means with great pleasure or satisfaction. Hilarious means very funny or amusing. Quip refers to a witty or clever remark.

The young ones chortled merrily at the side-splitting jest.

Meaning: This sentence describes a group of children who were expressing great joy and amusement by making hearty, joyful laughs in response to an extremely funny or humorous remark or story.

Choice of Words: Young ones is another way to refer to children. Chortled describes a hearty, joyful laugh. Merrily means in a cheerful or carefree manner. Side-splitting means causing uncontrollable laughter. Jest refers to a humorous remark or story.

Related Expressions