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

It jettisons jiggling ribbons of joy to every part of my body.

From The Daily Beast

Marrying another Jew was not just a personal simcha (joy), but one for the community.

From The Daily Beast

There was real joy on his face doling out the cigars and giving some to his wife to pass out from the box.

From The Daily Beast

Joy Woodhouse calls in to tell her bickering boys Brad and Dallas to “get this out of your system” before Christmas.

From The Daily Beast

It takes Sharp four hours to get into character: “I take joy in the mathematical, symmetrical precision and perfectness of Bach.”

From The Daily Beast

Her new joy and excitement, her gaiety and zest for life— all had been caused, not by himself, but by another.

From Project Gutenberg

In Manila particularly, amidst the pealing of bells and strains of music, unfeigned enthusiasm and joy were everywhere evident.

From Project Gutenberg

Light, the symbol of life's joy, seems to be the first language in which the spirit of beauty speaks to a child.

From Project Gutenberg

His holy book says: There is more joy over one sinner that repenteth than over ninety and nine just men.

From Project Gutenberg

Then she won, and went half mad with the joy and excitement, but the joy didn't last long.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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