joy

¹

[joi]

noun

1. 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.

   Synonyms: rapture
   Antonyms: grief, sorrow, unhappiness, misery

2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated.

   Her prose style is a pure joy.

3. the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.

4. a state of happiness or felicity.

   Synonyms: bliss

verb (used without object)

1. to feel joy; be glad; rejoice.

verb (used with object)

1. Obsolete.,  to gladden.

Joy

²

Or Joye

[joi]

noun

1. a female given name.

joy

/ dʒɔɪ /

noun

1. a deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment

2. something causing such a feeling; a source of happiness

3. an outward show of pleasure or delight; rejoicing

4. informal,  success; satisfaction

   I went to the bank for a loan, but got no joy

verb

1. (intr) to feel joy

2. obsolete,  (tr) to make joyful; gladden

Other Word Forms

• unjoyed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of joy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of joy¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see burst with (joy); pride and joy.

Synonym Study

See pleasure.

Example Sentences

That swing brought equal measures of joy and relief for Treinen, who has supplied little of either for the Dodgers this postseason.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s bringing random joy from pain scales to parking garages.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Despite their joy at the release, few were willing to be interviewed, saying Israeli authorities had warned them to not celebrate or speak to the media under threat of rearrest.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But amid the diplomatic celebrations and the joy during reunions in Israel and the Palestinian territories, many challenges still lie ahead if the ceasefire is to be built into a lasting peace.

Read more on BBC

Hundreds of freed Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been welcomed with tears and screams of joy as they were released by Israel to be reunited with their families in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• amusement 
• bliss 
• charm 
• cheer 
• comfort 
• delight 
• elation 
• glee 
• humor 
• pride 
• satisfaction 
• wonder