joyful

[joi-fuhl]

adjective

1. full of joy, as a person or one's heart; glad; delighted.

   Synonyms: jubilant, elated, buoyant, blithe, happy, joyous
   Antonyms: melancholy

2. showing or expressing joy, as looks, actions, or speech.

3. causing or bringing joy, as an event, a sight, or news; delightful.

   the joyful announcement of their marriage.

joyful

/ ˈdʒɔɪfʊl /

adjective

1. full of joy; elated

2. expressing or producing joy

   a joyful look

   a joyful occasion

Other Word Forms

• joyfully adverb
• joyfulness noun
• overjoyful adjective
• overjoyfully adverb
• overjoyfulness noun
• unjoyful adjective
• unjoyfully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of joyful¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; joy + -ful

Example Sentences

Sometimes you have to break away from heavy, sodden reality and go straight into joyful idiocy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Under an administration that targets minorities, we need joyful places like this to celebrate in active resistance. And when a couple comes up to me at Futch and says they met there, it’s magical.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ms. Case’s songs spark with this kind of powerful but finite energy, which reflects the alternately joyful and melancholy arc of life itself.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Five goals, four assists, and there is a feeling that football has returned to his body this season - fluid, joyful - after a mixed campaign last time round.

Read more on BBC

Variety magazine called it "contagiously joyful" while the Financial Times said it "lacked sparkle".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cheerful 
• cheery 
• ecstatic 
• elated 
• enjoyable 
• festive 
• heartening 
• joyous 
• jubilant 
• lighthearted 
• merry 
• pleasurable 
• rapturous 
• upbeat