SYNONYMS | EXAMPLES | WORD ORIGIN adjective, hap·pi·er, hap·pi·est. 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.
RELATED WORDS cheerful ,
contented ,
overjoyed ,
ecstatic ,
elated ,
joyous ,
delighted ,
pleased ,
pleasant ,
lively ,
merry ,
peaceful ,
upbeat ,
joyful ,
glad ,
jubilant ,
thrilled ,
successful ,
apt ,
fortunate
Origin of happy Middle English word dating back to
1300–50; see origin at
hap1 ,
-y1 SYNONYMS FOR happy 1 .
joyous ,
joyful ,
blithe ,
cheerful ,
merry ,
contented ,
blissful ,
satisfied .
3 .
favorable ,
propitious ;
successful ,
prosperous .
4 .
appropriate ,
fitting ,
opportune ,
pertinent .
Related forms o·ver·hap·py , adjective qua·si-hap·py , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for happy So, as far as Mexican officials like Peña Nieto are concerned, the goal is to keep their countrymen here — and keep them happy .
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.
But it turns out it was really about a woman's struggle to realize what actually makes her happy .
It was his nature to be happy and jolly; he could not help radiating sunshine all the time.
It was especially because Vaudrey appeared to be so happy , that his young wife was so contented.
I have not left him an excuse; and then it is that I display all my courtesy, in order to attain the happy issue of my project.
And when he died, soon after, he was happy to know that he left Prince Cherry in her hands.
But it suddenly hushed when I heard a ripple of laughter among the hollyhocks before the door of a happy country home.
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British Dictionary definitions for happy adjective -pier or -piest feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased
willing I'd be happy to show you around
causing joy or gladness
fortunate; lucky the happy position of not having to work
aptly expressed; appropriate a happy turn of phrase
(postpositive) informal slightly intoxicated
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interjection (in combination ) happy birthday ; happy Christmas
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Derived Forms happily , adverb happiness , noun Word Origin for happy C14: see hap 1 , -y 1
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
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 .
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with 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 The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
