cheerful
Americanadjective
adjective
-
having a happy disposition; in good spirits
-
pleasantly bright; gladdening
a cheerful room
-
hearty; ungrudging; enthusiastic
cheerful help
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cheerful
First recorded in 1400–50, cheerful is from the late Middle English word cherfull. See cheer, -ful
Explanation
Someone who's cheerful is spirited and happy. Your sister might be so cheerful that you hear her whistling joyfully first thing in the morning. If you're full of good humor and optimism, your friends probably describe you as cheerful. A cheerful bus driver, restaurant server, or calculus teacher can brighten your whole day. Cheerful means "full of cheer," and cheer, which came to mean "good mood or spirit," started out in the 13th century meaning "the face," from the Late Latin cara, "face," and its Greek root, kara, "head."
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.
When in 2023 the chance comes to race solo around the world—a journey of some 27,000 miles—Ms. Brauer, 29, gets the cheerful assent of her sponsors, and the planning begins.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
She also paid tribute to the "heroine of this story" - her mother - who "kept the home warm and cheerful, and encouraged us to get qualified and independent".
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Charlene remembered her nephew as a source of happiness in her home, a cheerful presence who once used his allowance to buy his mother a stuffed unicorn.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
He was excited and cheerful and willing to share his opinions.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
The Caterpillar & Chicken books lined a low shelf in a cheerful row.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
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