joy

[ joi ]

/ dʒɔɪ /

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noun

the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation: She felt the joy of seeing her son's success.

a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated: Her prose style is a pure joy.

the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.

a state of happiness or felicity.

verb (used without object)

to feel joy; be glad; rejoice.

verb (used with object)

Obsolete. to gladden.

Nearby words

jow, jowett, jowett, benjamin, jowl, jowly, joy, joy buzzer, joyance, joyce, joyce, james, joyce, william

Origin of joy

1175–1225; Middle English joy(e) < Old French joie, joye < Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (taken as feminine singular) of Latin gaudium joy, equivalent to gaud- (base of gaudēre to be glad) + -ium -ium

SYNONYMS FOR joy

1 rapture.

4 bliss. See pleasure.

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ANTONYMS FOR joy

1 misery, unhappiness, sorrow, grief.

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Related forms

un·joyed, adjective

Definition for joy (2 of 2)

Joy

or Joye

[ joi ]

/ dʒɔɪ /

noun

a female given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for joy

It jettisons jiggling ribbons of joy to every part of my body.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Joy Woodhouse calls in to tell her bickering boys Brad and Dallas to “get this out of your system” before Christmas.
Mom Scolds Pundit Sons on C-SPAN|Alex Chancey, The Daily Beast Video|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is a joy to watch Shafer seamlessly work incisive commentary on contemporary life into a fast-paced spine-chiller.
The Best Fiction of 2014: Ford, Ferrante, Klay, and More|William O’Connor|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Taking the time to thank our federal, state, and local bureaucracies for all the joy they bring us every day.
Up to a Point: Thanks to the Biggest Turkey, Uncle Sam|P. J. O’Rourke|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Which is a good thing, because Tyler James Williams is a joy to watch.
The Walking Dead’s ‘Crossed’: The Stage Is Now Set for a Bloody, Deadly Midseason Finale|Melissa Leon|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On his side, Shkrullah Bay could not contain himself for joy when I gave him news of his acquaintances there in detail.
Travels in Central Asia|Arminius Vmbry
It removed his guilt, hushed his fears, and filled him with joy and peace in believing.
The Great Commission|C. H. (Charles Henry) Mackintosh
As Faith beheld it she uttered a cry of joy and held out both hands toward him impulsively.
For Gold or Soul?|Lurana W. Sheldon
Surely a mere pittance; and yet the woman's face was radiant with joy.
The Red Mouse|William Hamilton Osborne
He joined the ladies before noon, and his newly awakened feeling of joy beamed upon them scarcely less radiantly than yesterday.
Arachne, Complete|Georg Ebers

British Dictionary definitions for joy

joy

/ (dʒɔɪ) /

noun

a deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment

something causing such a feeling; a source of happiness

an outward show of pleasure or delight; rejoicing

British informal success; satisfactionI went to the bank for a loan, but got no joy

verb

(intr) to feel joy

(tr) obsolete to make joyful; gladden

Word Origin for joy

C13: from Old French joie, from Latin gaudium joy, from gaudēre to be glad

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

Idioms and Phrases with joy

joy

see burst with (joy); pride and joy.