gleeful

American  

[glee-fuhl] / ˈgli fəl /

adjective

1. full of exultant joy; merry; delighted.

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gleeful British  

/ ˈɡliːfʊl /

adjective

1. full of glee; merry

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Other Word Forms

• gleefully adverb
• gleefulness noun
• ungleeful adjective

Etymology

Origin of gleeful

First recorded in 1580–90; glee ¹ + -ful

Explanation

If you're gleeful, you're delighted or joyful. The sound of children's gleeful laughter is one sign of a successful birthday party. When you feel gleeful, you're more than happy: you're exuberant and joyous. A friend's gleeful face tells you she's gotten great news or heard a hilarious joke, and gleeful kids will sometimes even scream with joy. In the 17th century, the alternate adjective gleesome competed with gleeful — both come from an Old English root, gliu, which means "mirth, play, sport," and also "music" and "mockery."

Example Sentences

"You're getting sacked in the morning," was the chant directed at Slot by the gleeful City supporters as their side scored four goals in 20 minutes either side of half-time.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

They’re getting louder, the echoes from 2002, when Lakers flags flapped above car doors all over L.A., and for a third consecutive year, residents paraded, gleeful and triumphant, with another championship to celebrate.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

And yes, all of this would be nitpicking, given the series’ gleeful disregard for verisimilitude.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

When it comes to the people who are actually running the prisons, how would you describe the process in which they became either completely okay or even gleeful about their role in mass incarceration.

From Salon • Jan. 26, 2026

As Wynne led him to the room, Penkovsky was gleeful: "I can't believe it, Greville. I just can't believe it."

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau