happy
adjective
delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing.
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Trivia Time
What was the original meaning of the word happy?
happy
American
[hap-ee]
/ ˈhæp i /
adjective
-
happier,
comparative
-
happiest
superlative
-
delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing.
I'm so happy to see you!
- Antonyms:
- sad
-
characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy.
a happy mood;
a happy frame of mind.
-
willing to be helpful, as with assistance, a contribution, or participation.
We’ll be happy to bring a couple of salads to the party.
-
favored by fortune; fortunate or lucky.
Our home country is a happy, fruitful land.
- Synonyms:
- prosperous, successful, propitious, favorable
-
(used as part of an expression of good wishes on a special occasion).
Happy Valentine’s Day to my husband.
Happy Birthday, Grandpa!
-
apt or felicitous, as actions, utterances, or ideas.
Their collaboration was a happy accident.
- Synonyms:
- pertinent, opportune, fitting, appropriate
-
obsessed by or quick to use the item indicated (usually used in combination).
He was a trigger-happy gangster.
Everybody is gadget-happy these days.
idioms
happy
1
British
/ ˈhæpɪ /
adjective
-
feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased
-
willing
I'd be happy to show you around
-
causing joy or gladness
-
fortunate; lucky
the happy position of not having to work
-
aptly expressed; appropriate
a happy turn of phrase
-
informal (postpositive) slightly intoxicated
interjection
-happy
2
British
combining form
happy
More Idioms
Usage
What is a basic definition of happy? Happy describes a feeling of joy, delight, or glee. It also describes something that is related to or shows joy. Happy can describe someone being willing to do something or be helpful. Happy is used in many expressions that wish good tidings to another person. Happy has a few other senses as an adjective. Happy describes feeling really good, as when a person in a good mood that makes them smile. Happiness refers to this positive emotion. Happily means in a happy way. Real-life examples: Everybody has something that makes them happy. Cute animals, presents, compliments, and loved ones make most people feel happy. Used in a sentence: The surprise birthday party really made Abdul happy. Happy also describes something that shows or is related to feelings of happiness and joy. Used in a sentence: The friendly clown had a happy smile. Happy describes someone being willing to do something, especially to help or assist someone else. They don’t think whatever they will do is a problem or a chore. Real-life examples: Many experts are happy to show off their knowledge. Salespeople are often happy to explain things to customers if it means selling more items. Used in a sentence: I’d be happy to give you a ride to the mall since I was going there anyway. The word happy is used in many greetings and expressions that wish a person well or wish that they have a good future. Used in a sentence: Happy birthday!
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of happy
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English; see origin at hap 1 ( def. ), -y 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Happy is a feeling of joy, pleasure, or good fortune — exactly how you'd feel if you learned that you won the lottery or got accepted into your number one choice of colleges. Happy hails from the Middle English word hap, meaning "good luck." Many of the early European words for happy actually referred to good luck, rather than a feeling of joy. On its own, happy means an enjoyable or satisfied state of being. When hyphenated, it can refer to an overwhelming inclination to do something. Someone who is trigger-happy, for example, has an overwhelming urge to shoot things, while a clothes-happy person is obsessed with taking trips to the mall.
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.
See Examples For:
He added, “I knew I could be happy here, but it would take all my resources, determination, and time to make it mine.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
McDuffie is happy to be back in Southern California and has easily melded into the Rams’ culture.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
He has been asked to pose for photos showing off his new smile – and he is only too happy to oblige.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
Chapters nationwide offer barbecues, beach days, run clubs, happy hours, karaoke, prom nights and more.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
I don’t feel like I have to do things to make him happy, to be someone I’m not to get him to stay.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Gasped Dr. Cook: "Thanks -happy," sank back into a coma.
From Time Magazine Archive
The more you complete your self-care tasks, the happier your bird becomes.
From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026
The local assemblyman that introduced that law, Avelino Valencia, could hardly have been any happier Tuesday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
"Since we've started producing the harm reduction messages, there's a lot more trust and confidence from the young people who are happier to engage with our volunteers," he said.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
It appears that you were happier to see an invite from your New York friend who you have not seen since the pandemic, but you had a sense that something was off.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
He’d been away from the Garners for only a day and already he felt happier and full of possibilities.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Without Walter, there is no happiest fan base in baseball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
“We also have a house in the United States, but our happiest place is on this farm where the kids can have fun,” George told RTL.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
Doom Scroll: Disney is the happiest place on Earth, unless you’re the designated scroller.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
As her mother explained, B.P.J. “is the happiest I have ever seen her when she is accepted for who she is and able to participate in school sports.”
From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2026
Even in the happiest times he’d made fun of my California accent, my secondhand overcoat and my room barren of tasteful bibelots, but in such an ingenuous way I couldn’t possibly do anything but laugh.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
