gladden
Americanverb (used with object)
-
gladdens,
present (3rd person singular)
-
gladdened,
past participle, past
-
gladdening
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
gladdens,
present (3rd person singular)
-
gladdened,
past participle, past
-
gladdening
present participle
verb
Synonym Usage
See cheer.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
gladdensimple
-
gladdenssimple
-
have gladdenedperfect
-
has gladdenedperfect
-
am gladdeningprogressive
-
are gladdeningprogressive
-
is gladdeningprogressive
-
have been gladdeningperfect progressive
-
has been gladdeningperfect progressive
Past
-
gladdenedsimple
-
had gladdenedperfect
-
was gladdeningprogressive
-
were gladdeningprogressive
-
had been gladdeningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of gladden
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at glad 1, -en 1
Explanation
To gladden is to make someone happy by delighting them or cheering them up. It will gladden your heart to finally find your lost dog. The verb gladden means "to make glad," from the Old English glæd, "bright, shining, gleaming" and also "joyous." So when something gladdens you, like running into your beloved kindergarten teacher, it brightens your whole day. Before the early 14th century, people used the word glad as a verb instead, as in: "It glads my ears to hear such beautiful music."
Vocabulary lists containing gladden
Enjoy! Synonyms for "Pleasure"
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The Epic of Gilgamesh
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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:
It expects him to be a grander figure, a talisman who will gladden the jaded and enthuse audiences the orchestra has yet to enthuse.
From New York Times ● May 13, 2023
Sentiments to gladden the hearts of Ukrainian diplomats and days after President Zelenksy's appeal, dozens of hopeful volunteers headed to the Ukrainian embassy in Abuja, with ambitions of enlisting.
From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2022
Rather than being a distressing duty, exclusion seems to gladden his dreary day.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 30, 2020
Surely Walt Disney himself was exactly like Todd Martens, in believing that a world of fantasy could lighten our burdens and gladden our hearts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2017
Only a letter bearing news of his return would gladden her, and she would celebrate his homecoming with all the ceremony of a holiday or saint’s festival.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Pitt especially gladdens as the former inmate with the face tattoos and creative side gig.
From New York Times ● Jul. 14, 2022
Sometimes there's a subversive element to Twitter, a sense of underground community; an anti-establishment frisson that gladdens the soul.
From The Guardian ● May 25, 2013
The one thing that gladdens my heart is that he’s going bald.”
From New York Times ● Apr. 23, 2011
There is little that gladdens a geek's heart more than the sound of that first successful post beep from a self-built computer.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 22, 2011
She comes out with a few friends, which gladdens me because I hoped she wouldn’t be alone.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
The sight of Palmer and Rogers warming up had gladdened the hearts of many, turning jeers to cheers.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
It was his getting up on Shabbat mornings to join us at synagogue that most gladdened and baffled me.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
Rather than viewing their opponents as enemies, many athletes seem to be emboldened and gladdened by their competitors’ successes.
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2024
“I’m surprised and gladdened by what the court did here,” added Gillers, who helped draft a complaint asking state courts to investigate Giuliani’s conduct.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 24, 2021
There were even such books of reference as the London Directory, the “Red” and “Blue” books, Whitaker’s Almanac, the Army and Navy Lists, and—it somehow gladdened my heart to see it—the Law List.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
He imagined the hiss and pop of their burning logs gladdening “many a humble fireside.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2025
The animated series pitches Aang’s refusal to entirely abandon his innocence as a gladdening luxury in a world ravaged by war.
From Salon ● Feb. 28, 2024
Lenton and Wilson, with a combined age of 130, were perhaps the most gladdening of the successes.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2022
The jewel-tone visuals especially complement the ultimately gladdening plot twists.
From Washington Post ● May 16, 2022
“Every tongue did its best to circulate the gladdening intelligence.”
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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