happy
adjective
delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing.
Trivia Time
What was the original meaning of the word happy?
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:
A happy welcome home to Stephen Hubbard, the retired American teacher imprisoned by Vladimir Putin since 2022.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
He isn’t happy to be in front of the media, like so many more “appreciative” athletes posit themselves to be.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026
Like his predecessor, he faces the difficult balancing act of keeping Labour MPs happy without spooking the financial markets, while delivering on the government's key priorities.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
“I was not happy at all,” Applegate told co-host Jamie-Lynn Sigler and listeners about her doctor’s recent revelation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
I used to do that when I wasn’t happy with my work, but I’ve realized that Ms. Wilcox is right.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Gasped Dr. Cook: "Thanks -happy," sank back into a coma.
From Time Magazine Archive
I seem to be happier with my mustache.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
People who believe they are out-earning their peers do appear to be actually happier, according to a 2024 paper circulated by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
The sheriff, now awaiting the delivery of two new squad cars that will be paid for with DHS funds, couldn’t be happier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
I’m much happier with an occasional Big Seasonal Prep Day — fill the freezer with soups, sauces, breakfast burritos and other useful things — and then let the ensuing weeks fall where they will.
From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026
Once she realized that, Penelope was even happier than she had been before, though it was a different sort of happy.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
This is a skillset of someone who is happiest in the darkest corners of government—the swampiest of swamps—a realm of acronyms, white papers, and multihyphenate bureaucracies.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
Jacqui has described the last few years as her "happiest in a long time".
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
Israel remains among the 10 happiest nations in the world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
"I think this may be the happiest moment of my life."
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
Momma told me she and Daddy named me Jubilee right then and there in the delivery room because it was the happiest word they knew.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
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