joyous
Americanadjective
adjective
-
having a happy nature or mood
-
joyful
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of joyous
1275–1325; Middle English < Anglo-French; Old French joios. See joy, -ous
Explanation
Someone or something joyous is characterized by joy: extreme, exuberant, deep happiness. If you won the lottery, you’d probably feel joyous. Joyous is a strong word for the absolute best moments in life. Weddings and graduations are usually described as joyous occasions. You would feel joyous if you accomplished a lifelong goal, such as earning a gold medal in the Olympics. In other words, joyous goes beyond the simple feeling of happiness you might get from watching your favorite TV show or eating a delicious sandwich — unless of course it’s a really amazing sandwich.
Vocabulary lists containing joyous
Smiley Face: Synonyms for "Happy"
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List 2
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American Street
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rampant environmental destruction notwithstanding, the novel kicks off with the joyous return of Miles, the guy who got away.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
A stubborn last-wicket stand looked set to deny Stokes' men until Jack Leach got one to slide on and trap Naseem Shah lbw, sparking joyous scenes.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
But no editor in the world could recut something like “Gail Daughtry” into a two-minute preview that accurately conveys just how joyous and stupid this film is.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026
Still the mood was joyous, with chants of "USA! USA! USA!" breaking out in one set of lines near the National Gallery.
From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026
Winnie had gotten a ride to Pretoria and our reunion was joyous.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
