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

"It was a surprise for them," the 42-year-old Palestinian told AFP, beaming with joy.

Read more on Barron's

We’re built to be unsatisfied, Mr. Kukushkin argues, and so he advises us to savor the search, find joy in the moment.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Emma said: "There's so much loveliness in them being together and knowing they will always have each other - and we've just got the joy of being able to join in with that dynamic."

Read more on BBC

How do you take all that expectation and turn it into joy?

Read more on BBC

Fans often experience joy when their team scores and anger or frustration at losses or poor referee calls.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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