joyous
Americanadjective
adjective
-
having a happy nature or mood
-
joyful
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of joyous
1275–1325; Middle English < Anglo-French; Old French joios. See joy, -ous
Explanation
Someone or something joyous is characterized by joy: extreme, exuberant, deep happiness. If you won the lottery, you’d probably feel joyous. Joyous is a strong word for the absolute best moments in life. Weddings and graduations are usually described as joyous occasions. You would feel joyous if you accomplished a lifelong goal, such as earning a gold medal in the Olympics. In other words, joyous goes beyond the simple feeling of happiness you might get from watching your favorite TV show or eating a delicious sandwich — unless of course it’s a really amazing sandwich.
Vocabulary lists containing joyous
Smiley Face: Synonyms for "Happy"
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List 2
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American Street
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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.
The birth of his son, Bodhi, should have been a joyous event.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
She also said Aston Villa's victory in the Europa League final had been "so joyous" for Birmingham.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
“They have that joyous moment for the team because they win, but life still goes on,” said Brian Gardner, a Central Altadena coach for his son’s team, a group slightly younger than the Braves.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
If they jam together like they banter, this is going to be one joyous and memorable closing set.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026
That following evening, my father arrived more joyous than I had seen him in many months.
From "I Will Always Write Back" by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
