joy

¹

[ joi ]

noun

1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation:

   She felt the joy of seeing her son's success.

   Synonyms: rapture

   Antonyms: unhappiness, grief, sorrow, misery

2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated:

   Her prose style is a pure joy.

3. the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.
4. a state of happiness or felicity.

   Synonyms: bliss

verb (used without object)

1. to feel joy; be glad; rejoice.

verb (used with object)

1. Obsolete. to gladden.

Joy

²

or Joye

[ joi ]

noun

1. a female given name.

joy

/ dʒɔɪ /

noun

1. a deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment
2. something causing such a feeling; a source of happiness
3. an outward show of pleasure or delight; rejoicing
4. informal.
   success; satisfaction

   I went to the bank for a loan, but got no joy

verb

1. intr to feel joy
2. obsolete.
   tr to make joyful; gladden

Other Words From

• un·joyed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of joy¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English joy(e), from Old French joie, joye, from Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (taken as feminine singular) of Latin gaudium “joy,” equivalent to gaud- (base of gaudēre “to be glad”) + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of joy¹

C13: from Old French joie, from Latin gaudium joy, from gaudēre to be glad

Idioms and Phrases

see burst with (joy) ; pride and joy .

Synonym Study

See pleasure.

Example Sentences

“The buyer needs to be bulking up on joy utility, because it’s not clear to me that this will be an addition to wealth utility,” he said.

From New York Times

“It’s a fascinating asset because you can get so much joy from it that people are willing to accept lower returns. Joy is not something to be messed with.”

From New York Times

She continued: “While a part of me died with you, I promise to fight to find joy in life as hard as you fought to live every single day. The world is lucky to have even had a moment with Paul Teal, and I am the luckiest person in it, because I got to call you mine. I will love you forever.”

From Los Angeles Times

Bethany Joy Lenz, who co-starred in “One Tree Hill,” said that her heart was heavy after Teal’s death.

From Los Angeles Times

All good and no complaints, but I was losing some joy for what I was doing.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amusement
• bliss
• charm
• cheer
• comfort
• delight
• elation
• glee
• humor
• pride
• satisfaction
• wonder