cheerful

[ cheer-fuhl ]

adjective

1. full of cheer; in good spirits:

   a cheerful person.

   Synonyms: jolly, sunny, buoyant, joyous, joyful, happy, blithe, gay, cheery

   Antonyms: miserable

2. promoting or inducing cheer; pleasant; bright:

   cheerful surroundings.

3. characterized by or expressive of good spirits or cheerfulness:

   cheerful songs.

4. hearty or ungrudging:

   cheerful giving.

   Synonyms: generous

   Antonyms: grudging

cheerful

/ ˈtʃɪəfʊl /

adjective

1. having a happy disposition; in good spirits
2. pleasantly bright; gladdening

   a cheerful room

3. hearty; ungrudging; enthusiastic

   cheerful help

Derived Forms

• ˈcheerfulness, noun
• ˈcheerfully, adverb

Other Words From

• cheerful·ly adverb
• cheerful·ness noun
• quasi-cheerful adjective
• quasi-cheerful·ly adverb
• un·cheerful adjective
• un·cheerful·ly adverb
• un·cheerful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cheerful¹

First recorded in 1400–50, cheerful is from the late Middle English word cherfull. See cheer, -ful

Example Sentences

They are not the only reasons to be cheerful.

From BBC

The symbol of the day: the ubiquitous p***y hats, cheerful pink knitted confections worn by women reclaiming control over a body part that Trump memorably boasted about grabbing against his victims' wills.

From Salon

“He tries to keep himself cheerful,” she says, “but if this goes on, they will break him.”

From BBC

Even after years on the job, Klotz has maintained her uncommonly cheerful manner.

From Los Angeles Times

While familiarity can sometimes breed contempt, in this case, it breeds cheerful reassurance.

From Salon

Related Words

• animated
• bright
• buoyant
• cheery
• chipper
• chirpy
• effervescent
• enthusiastic
• good-natured
• happy
• jaunty
• jolly
• joyful
• lighthearted
• lively
• merry
• optimistic
• peppy
• perky
• pleasant