cheerful

[cheer-fuhl]

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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.

Nearby words

Origin of cheerful

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

SYNONYMS FOR cheerful

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

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ANTONYMS FOR cheerful

1. miserable. 4. grudging.

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Related forms

cheer·ful·ly, adverbcheer·ful·ness, nounqua·si-cheer·ful, adjectivequa·si-cheer·ful·ly, adverb

un·cheer·ful, adjectiveun·cheer·ful·ly, adverbun·cheer·ful·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cheerfulness

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
It was very seldom that any one came to see us, and our few visitors brought neither joy nor cheerfulness to our house.
Katia|Leo Tolstoy
Her husband forced a smile, and kissed her with an air of cheerfulness.
The Tithe-Proctor|William Carleton
The good soldier will advance, with spirit and cheerfulness, to any service that falls in his way.
Elements of Gaelic Grammar|Alexander Stewart
Well, as I say, I found myself on a certain night a partaker of all this cheerfulness.
Far Off Things|Arthur Machen
(p. 083) The people are of a contented nature, and bear their poverty with cheerfulness and even dignity.
The Huguenots in France|Samuel Smiles.

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

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of cheerful

Examples from the Web for cheerfulness

cheerful

adjective

cheerful