Origin: Latin suffix -ous
Hilarious has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
marked by or causing boisterous merriment or convulsive laughter
"hilarious broad comedy"
"a screaming farce"
"uproarious stories"
Very funny; causing great merriment and laughter.
"The comedian's absurd stories were hilarious, leaving the entire audience in stitches."
In plain English: Hilarious means something so funny that it makes you laugh out loud uncontrollably.
"The comedian told such a hilarious joke that everyone in the audience laughed until they cried."
Usage: Use hilarious to describe something that provokes uncontrollable laughter, distinguishing it from merely amusing or mildly funny content. This word is often hyperbolic in everyday speech, so reserve it for situations where the humor truly elicits strong reactions rather than a simple smile.
The word hilarious entered English as a learned borrowing in the 16th century. It combines the Latin root hilaris, meaning cheerful or merry, with the suffix -ous.