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View synonyms for happy

happy

[hap-ee]

adjective

happier, happiest 
  1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing.

    I'm so happy to see you!

    Antonyms: sad
  2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy.

    a happy mood;

    a happy frame of mind.

  3. willing to be helpful, as with assistance, a contribution, or participation.

    We’ll be happy to bring a couple of salads to the party.

  4. favored by fortune; fortunate or lucky.

    Our home country is a happy, fruitful land.

  5. (used as part of an expression of good wishes on a special occasion).

    Happy Valentine’s Day to my husband.

    Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

  6. apt or felicitous, as actions, utterances, or ideas.

    Their collaboration was a happy accident.

  7. obsessed by or quick to use the item indicated (usually used in combination).

    He was a trigger-happy gangster.

    Everybody is gadget-happy these days.



happy

1

/ ˈhæpɪ /

adjective

  1. feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased

  2. willing

    I'd be happy to show you around

  3. causing joy or gladness

  4. fortunate; lucky

    the happy position of not having to work

  5. aptly expressed; appropriate

    a happy turn of phrase

  6. informal,  (postpositive) slightly intoxicated

“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

interjection

  1. ( in combination )

    happy birthday

    happy Christmas

“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

-happy

2

combining form

  1. denoting excessive enthusiasm for or devotion to

    gun-happy

“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
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Other Word Forms

  • happiness noun
  • happily adverb
  • overhappy adjective
  • quasi-happy adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of happy1

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English; hap 1 ( def. ), -y 1 ( def. )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of happy1

C14: see hap 1 , -y 1
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. happy as a clam. happy as a clam.

More idioms and phrases containing happy

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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.

Piastri said: "I'm very happy that there's no favouritism or bias."

Read more on BBC

“This is already for me. I’m so happy to be sitting in this room with so many amazing models and women. The team that put this all together has been amazing. I’m so excited.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Life is not perfect,” Maggie tells her vacation friend, “but it is good. And that makes me happy.”

Read more on Salon

We sink into habits we never really meant to adopt, habits we know are not making us happy or healthy.

Jamie Warren, a member of the family, told the BBC earlier this year he was an "all-round happy kid, who loved his toys".

Read more on BBC

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When To Use

What is a basic definition of happy?

Happy describes a feeling of joy, delight, or glee. It also describes something that is related to or shows joy. Happy can describe someone being willing to do something or be helpful. Happy is used in many expressions that wish good tidings to another person. Happy has a few other senses as an adjective.Happy describes feeling really good, as when a person in a good mood that makes them smile. Happiness refers to this positive emotion. Happily means in a happy way.Real-life examples: Everybody has something that makes them happy. Cute animals, presents, compliments, and loved ones make most people feel happy.Used in a sentence: The surprise birthday party really made Abdul happy.Happy also describes something that shows or is related to feelings of happiness and joy.Used in a sentence: The friendly clown had a happy smile. Happy describes someone being willing to do something, especially to help or assist someone else. They don’t think whatever they will do is a problem or a chore.Real-life examples: Many experts are happy to show off their knowledge. Salespeople are often happy to explain things to customers if it means selling more items.Used in a sentence: I’d be happy to give you a ride to the mall since I was going there anyway. The word happy is used in many greetings and expressions that wish a person well or wish that they have a good future.Used in a sentence: Happy birthday!

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.

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happinesshappy as a clam