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

That said, there is a huge difference between a press staffer getting his jollies on social media and the assistant attorney general of the United States playing politics with personal calamity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The closer the train draws to Orange County, the jollier the commuters become.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"He was very friendly, jolly, happy, he was spreading joy."

Read more on BBC

It also makes “Peacemaker” a jollier and more complicated view into the DC world than those we see in the movies because Chris Smith isn’t merely human, he’s average.

Read more on Salon

"When we heard about Victory in Europe, everybody got together, and we all had a good old drink up and jolly up," he said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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