jolly

[ jol-ee ]

adjective

, jol·li·er, jol·li·est.

1. in good spirits; lively; merry:

   In a moment he was as jolly as ever.

   Synonyms: playful, sportive, jovial, spirited, glad

   Antonyms: melancholy, gloomy

2. cheerfully festive or convivial:

   a jolly party.

   Synonyms: playful, sportive, jovial, spirited, glad

   Antonyms: melancholy, gloomy

3. joyous; happy:

   Christmas is a jolly season.

   Synonyms: playful, sportive, jovial, spirited, glad

   Antonyms: melancholy, gloomy

4. Chiefly British Informal. delightful; charming.
5. British.
   1. Informal. great; thorough:

      a jolly blunderer.

   2. Slang. slightly drunk; tipsy.

verb (used with object)

, jol·lied, jol·ly·ing.

1. Informal. to talk or act agreeably to (a person) in order to keep that person in good humor, especially in the hope of gaining something (usually followed by along ):

   They jollied him along until the job was done.

verb (used without object)

, jol·lied, jol·ly·ing.

1. Informal. to jolly a person; josh; kid.

noun

, plural jol·lies.

1. Informal. the practice or an instance of jollying a person.
2. Usually jollies. Informal. pleasurable excitement, especially from or as if from something forbidden or improper; thrills; kicks:

   He gets his jollies from watching horror movies.

adverb

1. British Informal. extremely; very:

   He'll jolly well do as he's told.

jolly

/ ˈdʒɒlɪ /

adjective

1. full of good humour; jovial
2. having or provoking gaiety and merrymaking; festive
3. greatly enjoyable; pleasing

adverb

1. (intensifier)

   you're jolly nice

verb

1. often foll byup or along to try to make or keep (someone) cheerful
2. to make goodnatured fun of

noun

1. informal.
   a festivity or celebration
2. informal.
   a trip, esp one made for pleasure by a public official or committee at public expense
3. slang.
   a Royal Marine

Derived Forms

• ˈjolliness, noun

Other Words From

• jol·li·ly adverb
• jol·li·ness noun
• un·jol·ly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jolly¹

1275–1325; Middle English joli, jolif < Old French, equivalent to jol- (probably < Old Norse jōl Yule ( def ) ) + -if -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of jolly¹

C14: from Old French jolif, probably from Old Norse jōl yule

Example Sentences

In written evidence to the inquest, Hayley Senior, Miss Senior's mother, had told the hearing her daughter had grown up as “a happy, sassy and really jolly girl”.

From BBC

"The body is working jolly hard at 10 degrees," says Prof Bailey.

From BBC

But the jolly tone gives way to something fiercer and more appropriately epic: a galloping rhythm on the drums, insistent bass and scorching guitar notes.

From New York Times

Another initiative by Market Place, called the Jolly Big Business Boost, allows one local business to operate at the market free of charge.

From BBC

The Scottish Conservatives accused him of having a "jolly to watch the football" at taxpayers' expense.

From BBC

Related Words

• carefree
• cheerful
• chipper
• convivial
• enjoyable
• festive
• jovial
• joyous
• lighthearted
• merry
• playful
• pleasant