cheerful

American  

[cheer-fuhl] / ˈtʃɪər fəl /

adjective

1. full of cheer; in good spirits.

   a cheerful person.

   Synonyms:

   jolly, sunny, buoyant, joyous, joyful, happy, blithe, gay, cheery

   Antonyms:

   miserable

2. promoting or inducing cheer; pleasant; bright.

   cheerful surroundings.

3. characterized by or expressive of good spirits or cheerfulness.

   cheerful songs.

4. hearty or ungrudging.

   cheerful giving.

   Synonyms:

   generous

   Antonyms:

   grudging

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cheerful British  

/ ˈtʃɪəfʊl /

adjective

1. having a happy disposition; in good spirits

2. pleasantly bright; gladdening

   a cheerful room

3. hearty; ungrudging; enthusiastic

   cheerful help

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Other Word Forms

• cheerfully adverb
• cheerfulness noun
• quasi-cheerful adjective
• quasi-cheerfully adverb
• uncheerful adjective
• uncheerfully adverb
• uncheerfulness noun

Etymology

Origin of cheerful

First recorded in 1400–50, cheerful is from the late Middle English word cherfull. See cheer, -ful

Example Sentences

But for the devout Christian and preternaturally cheerful young actor, the real metamorphosis is psychological.

From Los Angeles Times

The combination of Mr. Black’s barely controlled craziness and Mr. Rudd’s cheerful gosh-darn naïveté makes the picture work, though the gags are uneven.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is hard for a committed environmentalist to feel cheerful these days.

From Los Angeles Times

Down the steps stands an oversize candle—what otherwise would have been a cheerful decoration now an earnest memorial.

From The Wall Street Journal

Tired of Santas and relentlessly cheerful snowmen filling every screen?

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• animated
• bright
• buoyant
• cheery
• chipper
• chirpy
• effervescent
• enthusiastic
• good-natured
• happy
• jaunty
• jolly
• joyful
• lighthearted
• lively
• merry
• optimistic
• peppy
• perky
• pleasant