happy
- delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing: to be happy to see a person.
- characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy: a happy mood; a happy frame of mind.
- favored by fortune; fortunate or lucky: a happy, fruitful land.See Synonym Study at fortunate.
- apt or felicitous, as actions, utterances, or ideas.
- obsessed by or quick to use the item indicated (usually used in combination): a trigger-happy gangster. Everybody is gadget-happy these days.
Origin of happy
Synonyms
See more synonyms for happy on Thesaurus.comAntonyms
Examples from the Web for happy
Contemporary Examples
So, as far as Mexican officials like Peña Nieto are concerned, the goal is to keep their countrymen here — and keep them happy.
How do you celebrate when happy occasions are colored by loss and absence?
The church was not happy with his views, and there was talk of excommunication.
“We wish each and every one of you a happy and safe new year,” Giorgio said at the very end.
The would-be pope killer loves to be in front of the cameras, and the press in Italy is happy to oblige.
Historical Examples
She left me more composed and happy than I have been for many days.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
When they do not disturb him with earthly medicines, he is quiet and happy.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
For his sake, I am glad once more to be in my own happy home.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
She had rejoiced for his happy spirit, and now she mourned her own widowed lot.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
In these solitary tours he was busy and happy, working and playing.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
happy
- feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased
- willingI'd be happy to show you around
- causing joy or gladness
- fortunate; luckythe happy position of not having to work
- aptly expressed; appropriatea happy turn of phrase
- (postpositive) informal slightly intoxicated
- (in combination)happy birthday; happy Christmas
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for happy
adj.
late 14c., "lucky, favored by fortune, prosperous;" of events, "turning out well," from hap (n.) "chance, fortune" + -y (2). Sense of "very glad" first recorded late 14c. Ousted Old English eadig (from ead "wealth, riches") and gesælig, which has become silly. Meaning "greatly pleased and content" is from 1520s. Old English bliðe "happy" survives as blithe. From Greek to Irish, a great majority of the European words for "happy" at first meant "lucky." An exception is Welsh, where the word used first meant "wise."
Used in World War II and after as a suffix (e.g. bomb-happy, flak-happy) expressing "dazed or frazzled from stress." Happy medium is from 1778. Happy ending in the literary sense recorded from 1756. Happy as a clam (1630s) was originally happy as a clam in the mud at high tide, when it can't be dug up and eaten. Happy hunting ground, the reputed Indian paradise, is attested from 1840, American English. Related: Happier; happiest.
Idioms and Phrases with happy
happy
In addition to the idioms beginning with happy
- happy as the day is long
- happy camper
- happy hour
- happy hunting ground
- happy medium
also see:
- many happy returns
- trigger happy