joy

¹

[joi]

noun

1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation.

   She felt the joy of seeing her son's success.

   Synonyms: rapture
   Antonyms: grief, sorrow, unhappiness, misery

2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated.

   Her prose style is a pure joy.

3. the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.

4. a state of happiness or felicity.

   Synonyms: bliss

verb (used without object)

1. to feel joy; be glad; rejoice.

verb (used with object)

1. Obsolete.,  to gladden.

Joy

²

Or Joye

[joi]

noun

1. a female given name.

joy

/ dʒɔɪ /

noun

1. a deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment

2. something causing such a feeling; a source of happiness

3. an outward show of pleasure or delight; rejoicing

4. informal,  success; satisfaction

   I went to the bank for a loan, but got no joy

verb

1. (intr) to feel joy

2. obsolete,  (tr) to make joyful; gladden

Other Word Forms

• unjoyed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of joy¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English joy(e), from Old French joie, joye, from Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (taken as feminine singular) of Latin gaudium “joy,” equivalent to gaud- (base of gaudēre “to be glad”) + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of joy¹

C13: from Old French joie, from Latin gaudium joy, from gaudēre to be glad

Idioms and Phrases

see burst with (joy); pride and joy.

Synonym Study

See pleasure.

Example Sentences

Not only does Reaves play like an All-Star but the team plays with more enthusiasm and joy when not constrained by LeBron’s slow and deliberate pace, and hampered by LeBron’s porous defense.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There had been fleeting moments of joy in the past but, for many years, never anything like this.

Read more on BBC

Kahn’s most representational works are his least interesting; it’s in the careful dissection of his elements and the revelation of what we’re looking at that the most joy is found.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Meeting the people who make these places run was a joy, and how passionate they were is as passionate as I am,” Wareheim said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A few nibbled leaves are small prices to pay for the joy of birdsong and butterflies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• amusement 
• bliss 
• charm 
• cheer 
• comfort 
• delight 
• elation 
• glee 
• humor 
• pride 
• satisfaction 
• wonder