What does bemuse mean?
Word: Bemuse
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Bemuse means to puzzle or confuse someone.
Synonyms: puzzle, bewilder, baffle, perplex
Antonyms: clarify, enlighten
Word origin: Formed in English in the mid-1700s from the verb muse, to think deeply.
How do you spell bemuse?
Syllables: be - muse
Tricky part: The z sound is spelt with an s, as in muse. Take care, too, not to mix bemuse up with the look-alike amuse.
Watch out for: bemuze, bemuz
Memory tip: To muse is to think deeply; a bemused person is stuck musing, unable to work something out.
Bemuse in a sentence
Example 1: The sudden change in the timetable bemused the students.
Example 2: Grandpa looked bemused when the smart speaker answered his question.
Example 3: Her bemused frown showed she had not understood the joke.
Fun Fact
The adjective bemused is met far more often than the verb bemuse itself: most writers say a person looks bemused rather than that something bemuses them.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Twins
Read both sentences. In which sentence is the word used correctly?
1. The clown's tricks bemused the children so much that they laughed until they cried. 2. The strange instructions on the form bemused my grandfather.
a) both
b) neither
c) only 2
d) only 1
Show answer
c) only 2. Sentence 1 needs amused, because the children were laughing; bemused means puzzled.
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word/s in the given sentence:
The strange rules of the board game seemed to beemuse even my uncle, who usually loves a challenge.
a) rules and uncle
b) only beemuse
c) beemuse and challenge
d) only challenge
Show answer
b) only beemuse. Bemuse starts with be, as in befriend, with a single e; challenge is spelt correctly.
Sound Check
Which of the following words rhymes with bemuse?
a) loose
b) fuss
c) juice
d) views
Show answer
d) views. Views ends with the same yooz sound; loose, fuss and juice end with a plain s sound.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. bemuse 2. pacify 3. rectify a. correct b. calm c. mystify
a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
b) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
c) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
Show answer
b) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a. To bemuse is to mystify, to pacify is to calm, and to rectify is to correct.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. After a confusing set of instructions, the class sat bemused. What would help them most?
a) a harder surprise test
b) a clearer explanation
c) a louder school bell
d) a longer lunch break
Show answer
b) a clearer explanation
2. Which situation would most likely bemuse a visitor?
a) a sign in a language she cannot read
b) a clear map of the whole town
c) a friendly welcome at the front door
d) a hot cup of ginger tea after the ride
Show answer
a) a sign in a language she cannot read
