Pun
noun
A joke that uses different possible meanings of a word or words that sound similar but have different meanings.
I used to be a baker, I kneaded the dough. That's a pun because kneaded sounds like needed.
Often appears as...
- make a pun
- pun intended
noun
A joke that uses different possible meanings of a word or words that sound similar but have different meanings.
I used to be a baker, I kneaded the dough. That's a pun because kneaded sounds like needed.
Often appears as...
- make a pun
- pun intended
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Humor Device
Puns are often used to create humor in conversations, literature, and social media.
When the window fell into the incinerator, it was a pane in the ash to retrieve.
Pro Tip 2/3Informal Use
Puns are more common in casual settings or informal writing and can seem out of place in serious contexts.
An astronaut's favorite part of the computer is the space bar!
Pro Tip 3/3Often Intentional
Making a pun usually requires planning and intention, as it has to involve words with similar sounds or meanings.
Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.
Pro Tip 1/3Humor Device
Puns are often used to create humor in conversations, literature, and social media.
When the window fell into the incinerator, it was a pane in the ash to retrieve.
Pro Tip 2/3Informal Use
Puns are more common in casual settings or informal writing and can seem out of place in serious contexts.
An astronaut's favorite part of the computer is the space bar!
Pro Tip 3/3Often Intentional
Making a pun usually requires planning and intention, as it has to involve words with similar sounds or meanings.
Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.
Pro Tip 1/3Humor Device
Puns are often used to create humor in conversations, literature, and social media.
When the window fell into the incinerator, it was a pane in the ash to retrieve.
Pro Tip 2/3Informal Use
Puns are more common in casual settings or informal writing and can seem out of place in serious contexts.
An astronaut's favorite part of the computer is the space bar!
Pro Tip 3/3Often Intentional
Making a pun usually requires planning and intention, as it has to involve words with similar sounds or meanings.
Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.
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Video examples
How sampling transformed...
their visceral passion talking about music, it definitely stirred something in me, and I'm a sucker for anyone talking devotedly about the power of music. And I started to write down on these little note cards every time I heard something that struck a chord in me, pardon the pun, or something that I thought I could use,
Video examples
The greatest mathematicia...
the group ended their joke the only way they could. They printed Bourbaki’s obituary, complete with mathematical puns. Despite his apparent death, the group bearing Bourbaki’s name lives on today. Though he’s not associated with any single major discovery, Bourbaki’s influence informs much current research.
Video examples
How our friendship...
and that we have growing concerns about our two-party political system. But the most important thing about this conversation is that it happened at all. Without an open and honest dialogue between the two of us, this election would have been the elephant in the room for the next four years, pun intended.
Video examples
Demystifying quantum...
everything in the universe by the same process that you use to solve a crossword puzzle now I don't mean dictionaries full of words sorted by lengths I'm talking about the puzzle as a whole those themed clues that go all the way across the grid and today like a three word phrase there's a terrible pun
Video examples
Jamie Heywood: The big...
I learned that everything he did to manage his excess saliva, including some positive side effects that came from other drugs, were making his constipation worse. And if anyone's ever had severe constipation, and you don't understand how much of an impact that has on your life -- yes, that was a pun.
Video examples
Carl Honore: In praise...
Sex. There's an awful lot of fast sex around, isn't there? I was coming to -- well -- no pun intended there. I was making my way, let's say, slowly to Oxford, and I went through a news agent, and I saw a magazine, a men's magazine, and it said on the front,
Video examples
Robert Gupta: Music is...
I encourage all of you to read Steve's book or to watch the movie to understand not only the beautiful bond that formed between these two men, but how music helped shape that bond, and ultimately was instrumental -- if you'll pardon the pun --
Video examples
Stories of Exploration...
it's just little pun and until the day I do for the first time in a marine reserve that had been protected for a few years and everything that goes to show that was there the large groupers the sea bream the stingrays in large
Video examples
Michael Anti: Behind the...
and until recently, you can't search the surname of top leaders. So, the Chinese are very good at these puns and alternative wording and even memes. They even name themselves -- you know, use the name of this world-changing
Video examples
Arthur Ganson: Moving...
So a lot of the pieces that I've made, they involve found objects. And it really -- it's almost like doing visual puns all the time. When I see objects, I imagine them in motion. I imagine what can be said with them.
Video examples
How sampling transformed...
their visceral passion talking about music, it definitely stirred something in me, and I'm a sucker for anyone talking devotedly about the power of music. And I started to write down on these little note cards every time I heard something that struck a chord in me, pardon the pun, or something that I thought I could use,
Video examples
The greatest mathematicia...
the group ended their joke the only way they could. They printed Bourbaki’s obituary, complete with mathematical puns. Despite his apparent death, the group bearing Bourbaki’s name lives on today. Though he’s not associated with any single major discovery, Bourbaki’s influence informs much current research.
Video examples
How our friendship...
and that we have growing concerns about our two-party political system. But the most important thing about this conversation is that it happened at all. Without an open and honest dialogue between the two of us, this election would have been the elephant in the room for the next four years, pun intended.
Video examples
Demystifying quantum...
everything in the universe by the same process that you use to solve a crossword puzzle now I don't mean dictionaries full of words sorted by lengths I'm talking about the puzzle as a whole those themed clues that go all the way across the grid and today like a three word phrase there's a terrible pun
Video examples
Jamie Heywood: The big...
I learned that everything he did to manage his excess saliva, including some positive side effects that came from other drugs, were making his constipation worse. And if anyone's ever had severe constipation, and you don't understand how much of an impact that has on your life -- yes, that was a pun.
Video examples
Carl Honore: In praise...
Sex. There's an awful lot of fast sex around, isn't there? I was coming to -- well -- no pun intended there. I was making my way, let's say, slowly to Oxford, and I went through a news agent, and I saw a magazine, a men's magazine, and it said on the front,
Video examples
Robert Gupta: Music is...
I encourage all of you to read Steve's book or to watch the movie to understand not only the beautiful bond that formed between these two men, but how music helped shape that bond, and ultimately was instrumental -- if you'll pardon the pun --
Video examples
Stories of Exploration...
it's just little pun and until the day I do for the first time in a marine reserve that had been protected for a few years and everything that goes to show that was there the large groupers the sea bream the stingrays in large
Video examples
Michael Anti: Behind the...
and until recently, you can't search the surname of top leaders. So, the Chinese are very good at these puns and alternative wording and even memes. They even name themselves -- you know, use the name of this world-changing
Video examples
Arthur Ganson: Moving...
So a lot of the pieces that I've made, they involve found objects. And it really -- it's almost like doing visual puns all the time. When I see objects, I imagine them in motion. I imagine what can be said with them.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Teddy Thompson
British Musician
I was obsessed with country music when I was a kid, and it's definitely had a huge influence on the way I write songs. I was always attracted to songs that had a brilliant pun or a clever turn of phrase, but came from a dark, bitter place. As a writer, I've always gravitated towards that feeling.
Quote examples
Becky Lynch
Irish Athlete
I'm the champ that puns the camp! That's what I always wanted. I wanted to be seen as a main eventer, and it's a lot of responsibility now. I feel like I'm gonna deliver on this opportunity. I want to take it and make sure everybody knows that this is why I'm the champ.
Quote examples
Grace Gealey
American Actress
Even though there will be times when I'll need to protect myself - there will definitely be times when I'll have to put up my guard just to monitor what comes in and out of my life - there's a grace there... no pun intended!
Quote examples
Jay-Z
American Musician
As an artist, you make music. And if you see people who don't know how to market your music, you get involved in it. Otherwise, what you want to accomplish 'gets lost in translation' - no pun intended.
Quote examples
Arthur Smith
English Comedian
The pun exists in a social and political void, caring nothing for the issues of its day, content merely to display itself in its small cleverness.
Quote examples
Willam Belli
American Actor
Being a fat kid - FFK, former fat kid - helped round me out, no pun intended. I'm a better adult because I wasn't treated well as a child.
Quote examples
James Howe
American Writer
Words played an important part in my growing up. Not only the written word... but words that flew through the air: jokes, riddles, puns.
Quote examples
Edgar Allan Poe
American Poet
Of puns it has been said that those who most dislike them are those who are least able to utter them.
Quote examples
Scott Aukerman
American Writer
I'm probably doing puns more than anything in my life.
Quote examples
Tim Vine
British Comedian
For one thing, I don't pun excessively in real life.
Quote examples
Teddy Thompson
British Musician
I was obsessed with country music when I was a kid, and it's definitely had a huge influence on the way I write songs. I was always attracted to songs that had a brilliant pun or a clever turn of phrase, but came from a dark, bitter place. As a writer, I've always gravitated towards that feeling.
Quote examples
Becky Lynch
Irish Athlete
I'm the champ that puns the camp! That's what I always wanted. I wanted to be seen as a main eventer, and it's a lot of responsibility now. I feel like I'm gonna deliver on this opportunity. I want to take it and make sure everybody knows that this is why I'm the champ.
Quote examples
Grace Gealey
American Actress
Even though there will be times when I'll need to protect myself - there will definitely be times when I'll have to put up my guard just to monitor what comes in and out of my life - there's a grace there... no pun intended!
Quote examples
Jay-Z
American Musician
As an artist, you make music. And if you see people who don't know how to market your music, you get involved in it. Otherwise, what you want to accomplish 'gets lost in translation' - no pun intended.
Quote examples
Arthur Smith
English Comedian
The pun exists in a social and political void, caring nothing for the issues of its day, content merely to display itself in its small cleverness.
Quote examples
Willam Belli
American Actor
Being a fat kid - FFK, former fat kid - helped round me out, no pun intended. I'm a better adult because I wasn't treated well as a child.
Quote examples
James Howe
American Writer
Words played an important part in my growing up. Not only the written word... but words that flew through the air: jokes, riddles, puns.
Quote examples
Edgar Allan Poe
American Poet
Of puns it has been said that those who most dislike them are those who are least able to utter them.
Quote examples
Scott Aukerman
American Writer
I'm probably doing puns more than anything in my life.
Quote examples
Tim Vine
British Comedian
For one thing, I don't pun excessively in real life.
Example 1 of 10
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