merriment

American  

[mer-i‐, mer-ee-muhnt] / ˈmɛr ɪ‐, ˈmɛr i mənt /

noun

1. cheerful or joyful gaiety; mirth; hilarity; laughter.

   Antonyms:

   melancholy, misery

2. Obsolete. a cause of mirth; a jest, entertainment, etc.

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merriment British  

/ ˈmɛrɪmənt /

noun

1. gaiety, fun, or mirth

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Related Words

See mirth.

Other Word Forms

• overmerriment noun

Etymology

Origin of merriment

First recorded in 1570–80; merry + -ment

Example Sentences

But the moment I looked into my aunt’s stony face, any trace of the merriment I was feeling vanished like a flock of sparrows.

From Literature

In summoning so much mirth for its monument to merriment, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” cheerfully rages against the dying of the light.

From The Wall Street Journal

My self-consciousness about the high number of touring productions persuaded me not to include “Shucked” at the Hollywood Pantages, which lightened the summer with its country bumpkin merriment.

From Los Angeles Times

From a certain angle, it looked as if Agatha and Pax were glancing at each other, a twin twinkle of merriment in each oil-painted eye.

From Literature

Before long, even the solemn Swanburne girls began to talk and giggle among themselves, with nearly the same freedom and merriment Penelope recalled from her own days at school.

From Literature

Related Words

• hilarity
• revelry