happy

[ hap-ee ]

adjective

, hap·pi·er, hap·pi·est.

1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing:

   I'm so happy to see you!

   Synonyms: satisfied, blissful, contented, merry, cheerful, blithe, joyful, joyous

   Antonyms: sad

2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy:

   a happy mood;

   a happy frame of mind.

3. willing to be helpful, as with assistance, a contribution, or participation:

   We’ll be happy to bring a couple of salads to the party.

4. favored by fortune; fortunate or lucky:

   Our home country is a happy, fruitful land.

   Synonyms: prosperous, successful, propitious, favorable

5. (used as part of an expression of good wishes on a special occasion):

   Happy Valentine’s Day to my husband.

   Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

6. apt or felicitous, as actions, utterances, or ideas:

   Their collaboration was a happy accident.

   Synonyms: pertinent, opportune, fitting, appropriate

7. obsessed by or quick to use the item indicated (usually used in combination):

   He was a trigger-happy gangster.

   Everybody is gadget-happy these days.

happy

¹

/ ˈhæpɪ /

adjective

1. feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased
2. willing

   I'd be happy to show you around

3. causing joy or gladness
4. fortunate; lucky

   the happy position of not having to work

5. aptly expressed; appropriate

   a happy turn of phrase

6. informal.
   postpositive slightly intoxicated

interjection

1. ( in combination )

   happy birthday

   happy Christmas

-happy

²

combining form

1. denoting excessive enthusiasm for or devotion to

   gun-happy

Derived Forms

• ˈhappiness, noun
• ˈhappily, adverb

Other Words From

• o·ver·hap·py adjective
• qua·si-hap·py adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of happy¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English; hap ¹( def ), -y ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of happy¹

C14: see hap ¹, -y ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. happy as a clam. happy as a clam.

More idioms and phrases containing happy

• many happy returns
• trigger happy

Example Sentences

"You won't be happy if you are running an LLM and your phone drains out of charge in an hour," said Saha.

From Science Daily

Unlike many saboteurs, the 46-year-old does not wear a mask - and was happy to be interviewed on camera.

From BBC

Decisions will have to be made with big names who are coming to the ends of their contracts, and their future - Kevin de Bruyne's contract expires this summer, and Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Ederson's current deals run out in 2026 - and he is happy to do them.

From BBC

For example, almond and vinegar became more intense when participants were happy or experienced a positive emotion, but if a person was even mildly stressed they perceived a less intense vinegar aroma, Loke said.

From Science Daily

These strategies include cool-off activities like drawing, counting to ten or deep breathing, thinking about something happy to keep calm, meditation or mindfulness or moving away from other people.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• cheerful
• delighted
• ecstatic
• elated
• enraptured
• exultant
• glad
• gleeful
• jolly
• joyful
• joyous
• jubilant
• merry
• mirthful
• overjoyed
• thrilled
• up
• upbeat