jolly

[jol-ee]

adjective

jollier, jolliest 

1. in good spirits; lively; merry.

   In a moment he was as jolly as ever.

   Synonyms: playful, sportive, jovial, spirited, glad
   Antonyms: melancholy, gloomy

2. cheerfully festive or convivial.

   a jolly party.

   Synonyms: playful, sportive, jovial, spirited, glad
   Antonyms: melancholy, gloomy

3. joyous; happy.

   Christmas is a jolly season.

   Synonyms: playful, sportive, jovial, spirited, glad
   Antonyms: melancholy, gloomy

4. Chiefly British Informal.,  delightful; charming.

5. British.

   1. Informal.,  great; thorough.

      a jolly blunderer.

   2. Slang.,  slightly drunk; tipsy.

verb (used with object)

jollied, jollying 

1. Informal.,  to talk or act agreeably to (a person) in order to keep that person in good humor, especially in the hope of gaining something (usually followed byalong ).

   They jollied him along until the job was done.

verb (used without object)

jollied, jollying 

1. Informal.,  to jolly a person; josh; kid.

noun

plural

jollies 

1. Informal.,  the practice or an instance of jollying a person.

2. Informal.,  Usually jollies. pleasurable excitement, especially from or as if from something forbidden or improper; thrills; kicks.

   He gets his jollies from watching horror movies.

adverb

1. British Informal.,  extremely; very.

   He'll jolly well do as he's told.

jolly

/ ˈdʒɒlɪ /

adjective

1. full of good humour; jovial

2. having or provoking gaiety and merrymaking; festive

3. greatly enjoyable; pleasing

adverb

1. (intensifier)

   you're jolly nice

verb

1. to try to make or keep (someone) cheerful

2. to make goodnatured fun of

noun

1. informal,  a festivity or celebration

2. informal,  a trip, esp one made for pleasure by a public official or committee at public expense

3. slang,  a Royal Marine

Other Word Forms

• jollily adverb
• jolliness noun
• unjolly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jolly¹

1275–1325; Middle English joli, jolif < Old French, equivalent to jol- (probably < Old Norse jōl Yule ( def. ) ) + -if -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of jolly¹

C14: from Old French jolif, probably from Old Norse jōl _yule

Example Sentences

The display in posh Kingston upon Thames in southwest London at first glance seems to depict a jolly crowd enjoying the festive season.

Read more on Barron's

“For these are jolly good babies, For these are jolly good babies, For these are jolly good babies, And so say all of us!”

Read more on Literature

If Penelope had been in a jollier mood, the idea of Mrs. Clarke in a pair of ice skates, gracefully twirling and leaping across a frozen expanse, would have made her struggle not to laugh.

Read more on Literature

They all clapped me on the back & sang a song about me being a jolly good fellow.

Read more on Literature

Six seasons of TV and three feature films depict servitude as a benevolent state, sometimes verging on jolly.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• carefree 
• cheerful 
• chipper 
• convivial 
• enjoyable 
• festive 
• jovial 
• joyous 
• lighthearted 
• merry 
• playful 
• pleasant