happy
adjective
delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing.
happy
American
[hap-ee]
/ ˈhæp i /
adjective
-
happier,
comparative
-
happiest
superlative
-
delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing.
I'm so happy to see you!
- Antonyms:
- sad
-
characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy.
a happy mood;
a happy frame of mind.
-
willing to be helpful, as with assistance, a contribution, or participation.
We’ll be happy to bring a couple of salads to the party.
-
favored by fortune; fortunate or lucky.
Our home country is a happy, fruitful land.
- Synonyms:
- prosperous, successful, propitious, favorable
-
(used as part of an expression of good wishes on a special occasion).
Happy Valentine’s Day to my husband.
Happy Birthday, Grandpa!
-
apt or felicitous, as actions, utterances, or ideas.
Their collaboration was a happy accident.
- Synonyms:
- pertinent, opportune, fitting, appropriate
-
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.
idioms
happy
1
British
/ ˈhæpɪ /
adjective
-
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
-
informal (postpositive) slightly intoxicated
interjection
-happy
2
British
combining form
happy
More Idioms
Usage
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!
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of happy
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English; see origin at hap 1 ( def. ), -y 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Happy is a feeling of joy, pleasure, or good fortune — exactly how you'd feel if you learned that you won the lottery or got accepted into your number one choice of colleges. Happy hails from the Middle English word hap, meaning "good luck." Many of the early European words for happy actually referred to good luck, rather than a feeling of joy. On its own, happy means an enjoyable or satisfied state of being. When hyphenated, it can refer to an overwhelming inclination to do something. Someone who is trigger-happy, for example, has an overwhelming urge to shoot things, while a clothes-happy person is obsessed with taking trips to the mall.
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.
See Examples For:
"Not the way I wanted it to end at all. I hope James will get well soon and rest up for next week. But I am very happy to be through."
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
I’m happy you had the sense to save those Slack messages.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026
“It’s just not productive. When you’re done, I’m happy to run the business.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
A similar percentage reported feeling happy they had frozen their eggs, even if they had not returned to use them.
From Slate ● Aug. 29, 2026
I chuckle, happy to see Father and Caesar arguing.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Gasped Dr. Cook: "Thanks -happy," sank back into a coma.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Since we've started producing the harm reduction messages, there's a lot more trust and confidence from the young people who are happier to engage with our volunteers," he said.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
“Soft Control” is a brighter record than one has come to expect from Dulli — not happier, not optimistic, just brighter.
From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026
It appears that you were happier to see an invite from your New York friend who you have not seen since the pandemic, but you had a sense that something was off.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
If that rings a bell, it’s the Easterlin Paradox from 1974, which noted that although the rich are happier than the poor, happiness doesn’t increase as national income grows over time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
He only nodded at me, and I couldn’t think of a time I’d been happier.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
“Who could we get to better guarantee fan experience than the man who runs ‘the happiest place on earth?’”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
“We also have a house in the United States, but our happiest place is on this farm where the kids can have fun,” George told RTL.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
A few months after the premiere, Holland marked Zendaya's birthday by posting a selfie from the set, alongside the caption: "My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays. Gimme a call when your up xxx."
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Doom Scroll: Disney is the happiest place on Earth, unless you’re the designated scroller.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
As they were the ones I had always liked best, those last years were my happiest at school.
From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall
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.
