merry

¹

[mer-ee]

adjective

merrier, merriest 

1. full of cheerfulness or gaiety; joyous in disposition or spirit.

   a merry little man.

   Synonyms: glad, cheery, frolicsome, blithesome, blithe, happy
   Antonyms: sad

2. laughingly happy; mirthful; festively joyous; hilarious.

   a merry time at the party.

   Synonyms: gleeful, jovial, jolly
   Antonyms: solemn

3. Archaic.,  causing happiness; pleasant; delightful.

Merry

²

[mer-ee]

noun

1. a female given name.

merry

/ ˈmɛrɪ /

adjective

1. cheerful; jolly

2. very funny; hilarious

3. informal,  slightly drunk

4. archaic,  delightful

5. to revel; be festive

6. informal,  to disturb greatly; disrupt

Pronunciation Note

See Mary.

Other Word Forms

• merrily adverb
• merriness noun
• overmerrily adverb
• overmerriness noun
• overmerry adjective
• unmerrily adverb
• unmerry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of merry¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English meri(e),myrie, murie, Old English myr(i)ge, mer(i)ge “pleasant, delightful”

Word History and Origins

Origin of merry¹

Old English merige agreeable

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. make merry,

   1. to be happy or festive.

      The New Year's revelers were making merry in the ballroom.

   2. to make fun of; ridicule.

      The unthinking children made merry of the boy who had no shoes.

Example Sentences

Snow already lying on the ground on Christmas Day may make things look merry and bright, but it does not count under the official definition of a white Christmas.

Read more on BBC

Not completely, though, because Clarke will still be calling together his band of merry men for a couple of friendlies.

Read more on BBC

It’s the merriest time of the year — and arguably when the resort is at its glistening, glowing best with seasonal food offerings, holiday ride makeovers and unique live entertainment options.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Yes, the captain was back, and very merry, and had a funny medicinal smell about him.

Read more on Literature

Penelope called, for she felt merry but also as if she might cry, and she much preferred merry.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• amusing 
• cheerful 
• comical 
• enjoyable 
• fun-loving 
• glad 
• hilarious 
• jolly 
• joyful 
• joyous 
• lighthearted 
• lively 
• mad 
• pleasant 
• rollicking 
• sunny 
• winsome