gladden
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Related Words
See cheer.
Other Word Forms
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
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.
The images of Rodri out on the first-team training pitches, running, turning and kicking the ball, will gladden the heart of every Manchester City fan.
From BBC • Feb. 28, 2025
The word from Washington is sure to gladden the Newsom campaign.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 12, 2021
The little I’ve heard about Bloomberg will not gladden the hearts of his campaign advisers.
From Washington Post • Feb. 27, 2020
The new escalator policy, which awaits final board approval, would gladden the ghost of comedian Mitch Hedberg, who famously imagined signs that say: “Escalator Temporarily Stairs. Sorry for the Convenience.”
From Seattle Times • Apr. 6, 2018
The second task would lay perfume on the air and gladden noses near and far.
From "The Midwife's Apprentice" by Karen Cushman
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.
