overjoy

American  

[oh-ver-joi] / ˌoʊ vərˈdʒɔɪ /

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to feel great joy or delight; elate.

   It overjoys me to hear of your good fortune. I was overjoyed at her safe arrival.

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overjoy British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈdʒɔɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to give great delight to

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Other Word Forms

• overjoyed adjective

Etymology

Origin of overjoy

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; over-, joy

Explanation

To overjoy is to fill someone with extreme happiness. If you adopt that fuzzy kitten and give it to your little sister, it will absolutely overjoy her. Your teacher has the power to overjoy your whole class — all he has to do is cancel the math quiz and order pizza instead. And you can just as easily overjoy your grandparents by arranging a surprise reunion with all of your cousins. The adjective overjoyed (or "deliriously happy") is more common than the verb overjoy, but they're both great words for describing a thrilling, glorious happiness.

Example Sentences

There’s a mix-and-match feel to Battlefront II’s multiplayer that I think is going to overjoy some fans, and infuriate others.

From The Verge • Jun. 11, 2017

Bill had to work off his overjoy at this by an exuberant flourish.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 09, No. 51, January, 1862 by Various

Then Alaeddin passed through it and was met by his wife, when they embraced and exchanged kisses with all delight until they wept for overjoy.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 13 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

You overjoy me, madam; you shall have it, an 'twere twice as much.

From The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 02 by Scott, Walter, Sir

Are we not overjoy, dearest, and cannot speak?

From Uncle Silas A Tale of Bartram-Haugh by Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan