jolly

American  

[jol-ee] / ˈdʒɒl i /

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.

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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 British  

/ ˈdʒɒlɪ /

adjective

1. full of good humour; jovial

2. having or provoking gaiety and merrymaking; festive

3. greatly enjoyable; pleasing

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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

Etymology

Origin of jolly

1275–1325; Middle English joli, jolif < Old French, equivalent to jol- (probably < Old Norse jōl Yule ( def. ) ) + -if -ive

Example Sentences

To put down the ideas in one’s head requires no one else—no friends, no neighbors, no jolly group.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

And maybe Van Dyke is a little like Santa: white hair, rosy cheeks, jolly and wholesome.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2026

Puckish humor, high-culture references and interior artwork by Ashley Mackenzie and Virginia Allyn give excitement and heft to this jolly read for children ages 10 and older.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell may not be anyone’s idea of jolly, but he has still left something of a gift for Wall Street as Christmas approaches.

From Barron's • Dec. 11, 2025

"My head was jolly sore afterwards," Rupert said.

From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl

Related Words

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