cheerful

[cheer-fuh l]

See more synonyms for cheerful on Thesaurus.com

adjective

full of cheer; in good spirits: a cheerful person.
promoting or inducing cheer; pleasant; bright: cheerful surroundings.
characterized by or expressive of good spirits or cheerfulness: cheerful songs.

hearty or ungrudging: cheerful giving.

Origin of cheerful

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

Related formscheer·ful·ly, adverbcheer·ful·ness, nounqua·si-cheer·ful, adjectivequa·si-cheer·ful·ly, adverbun·cheer·ful, adjectiveun·cheer·ful·ly, adverbun·cheer·ful·ness, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for cheerful on Thesaurus.com

1. cheery, gay, blithe, happy, joyful, joyous, buoyant, sunny, jolly. 4. generous.

Antonyms

1. miserable. 4. grudging.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for cheerfulness

Contemporary Examples

She was known for her positivity, cheerfulness, and sweet demeanor.
The Names You Don’t Hear: Nearly 200 Women Have Died in Iraq and Afghanistan
Kate Hoit
May 26, 2014
Unsavoury as it is below, there is cheerfulness, and comfort, and hard, honest work above.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show
Robert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014
Women,” Gore says, “have been socialized really differently with happiness and cheerfulness and our place in the world.
What Makes Women Happy?
Marisa Meltzer
February 21, 2010
Women," Gore says, "have been socialized really differently with happiness and cheerfulness and our place in the world.
What Makes Women Happy?
Marisa Meltzer
February 21, 2010
Oppose Sotomayor, if you will, on her legal opinions, not on her credentials or cheerfulness.
Is Sotomayor Getting Palin-ed?
Elaine Lafferty
May 28, 2009

Historical Examples

Percival was being forced to cheerfulness in spite of himself.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
"Let us hope so," said the captain, recovering his cheerfulness.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
Till then we must submit with what fortitude and cheerfulness we may.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
But she had not so much share in her own cheerfulness as her poor aunts had in their misery.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
But a touch of cheerfulness appeared in his tones as he proceeded.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana

British Dictionary definitions for cheerfulness

cheerful

adjective

having a happy disposition; in good spirits
pleasantly bright; gladdeninga cheerful room
hearty; ungrudging; enthusiasticcheerful help

Derived Formscheerfully, adverbcheerfulness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cheerfulness

cheerful

adj.

c.1400, "full of cheer," from cheer (n.) + -ful. Meaning "elevating the spirits" is from mid-15c. Related: Cheerfully; cheerfulness.

cheerful

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}cheerful

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples from the Web for cheerfulness

Contemporary Examples

She was known for her positivity, cheerfulness, and sweet demeanor.

Unsavoury as it is below, there is cheerfulness, and comfort, and hard, honest work above.

Women,” Gore says, “have been socialized really differently with happiness and cheerfulness and our place in the world.

Women," Gore says, "have been socialized really differently with happiness and cheerfulness and our place in the world.

Oppose Sotomayor, if you will, on her legal opinions, not on her credentials or cheerfulness.

Historical Examples

Percival was being forced to cheerfulness in spite of himself.

"Let us hope so," said the captain, recovering his cheerfulness.

Till then we must submit with what fortitude and cheerfulness we may.

But she had not so much share in her own cheerfulness as her poor aunts had in their misery.

But a touch of cheerfulness appeared in his tones as he proceeded.

cheerful

Word Origin and History for cheerfulness

cheerful

adj.

Origin of cheerful