happy

[ hap-ee ]

adjective

, hap·pi·er, hap·pi·est.

1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing:

   I'm so happy to see you!

   Synonyms: satisfied, blissful, contented, merry, cheerful, blithe, joyful, joyous

   Antonyms: sad

2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy:

   a happy mood;

   a happy frame of mind.

3. willing to be helpful, as with assistance, a contribution, or participation:

   We’ll be happy to bring a couple of salads to the party.

4. favored by fortune; fortunate or lucky:

   Our home country is a happy, fruitful land.

   Synonyms: prosperous, successful, propitious, favorable

5. (used as part of an expression of good wishes on a special occasion):

   Happy Valentine’s Day to my husband.

   Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

6. apt or felicitous, as actions, utterances, or ideas:

   Their collaboration was a happy accident.

   Synonyms: pertinent, opportune, fitting, appropriate

7. obsessed by or quick to use the item indicated (usually used in combination):

   He was a trigger-happy gangster.

   Everybody is gadget-happy these days.

happy

¹

/ ˈhæpɪ /

adjective

1. feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased
2. willing

   I'd be happy to show you around

3. causing joy or gladness
4. fortunate; lucky

   the happy position of not having to work

5. aptly expressed; appropriate

   a happy turn of phrase

6. informal.
   postpositive slightly intoxicated

interjection

1. ( in combination )

   happy birthday

   happy Christmas

-happy

²

combining form

1. denoting excessive enthusiasm for or devotion to

   gun-happy

Derived Forms

• ˈhappiness, noun
• ˈhappily, adverb

Other Words From

• o·ver·hap·py adjective
• qua·si-hap·py adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of happy¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English; hap ¹( def ), -y ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of happy¹

C14: see hap ¹, -y ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. happy as a clam. happy as a clam.

More idioms and phrases containing happy

• many happy returns
• trigger happy

Example Sentences

So, as far as Mexican officials like Peña Nieto are concerned, the goal is to keep their countrymen here — and keep them happy.

From The Daily Beast

How do you celebrate when happy occasions are colored by loss and absence?

From The Daily Beast

He seemed by all appearances perfectly happy to let the Republicans control the state senate.

From The Daily Beast

The church was not happy with his views, and there was talk of excommunication.

From The Daily Beast

“We wish each and every one of you a happy and safe new year,” Giorgio said at the very end.

From The Daily Beast

And that was that if he and his wife were to ever live together again and be happy, the family were to be kept out of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Cousin George's position is such a happy one, that conversation is to him a thing superfluous.

From Project Gutenberg

Liszt gazed at "his Hans," as he calls him, with the fondest pride, and seemed perfectly happy over his arrival.

From Project Gutenberg

M'Bongo and his whole court are now clothed, I am happy to say, at least to a certain extent.

From Project Gutenberg

He was aware that his act by this time, had helped nobody, had made no one happy or satisfied—not even himself.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cheerful
• delighted
• ecstatic
• elated
• enraptured
• exultant
• glad
• gleeful
• jolly
• joyful
• joyous
• jubilant
• merry
• mirthful
• overjoyed
• thrilled
• up
• upbeat