joyful

[joi-fuhl]

adjective

1. full of joy, as a person or one's heart; glad; delighted.

   Synonyms: jubilant, elated, buoyant, blithe, happy, joyous
   Antonyms: melancholy

2. showing or expressing joy, as looks, actions, or speech.

3. causing or bringing joy, as an event, a sight, or news; delightful.

   the joyful announcement of their marriage.

joyful

/ ˈdʒɔɪfʊl /

adjective

1. full of joy; elated

2. expressing or producing joy

   a joyful look

   a joyful occasion

Other Word Forms

• joyfully adverb
• joyfulness noun
• overjoyful adjective
• overjoyfully adverb
• overjoyfulness noun
• unjoyful adjective
• unjoyfully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of joyful¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; joy + -ful

Example Sentences

The impression Mr. Mamdani created wasn’t of New York as a welcoming community, a joyful mix of cultures, races, religions and ethnicities.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Knight also continued her fine form before she was also pinned in front by Devine – which again sparked emotion as there were joyful celebrations for her final ODI wicket.

Read more on BBC

"He had a way of making people smile even in the toughest of times and is remembered for that smile and a chuckle that captured his joyful spirit," they said.

Read more on BBC

But as joyful videos of hostages reuniting with their families flooded the internet, we know five things about what just happened.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Before Candy died of a heart attack at just 43 years old, the Canadian comedian achieved world fame for his deft improvisational skills and joyful presence.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• cheerful 
• cheery 
• ecstatic 
• elated 
• enjoyable 
• festive 
• heartening 
• joyous 
• jubilant 
• lighthearted 
• merry 
• pleasurable 
• rapturous 
• upbeat