gladden

American  

[glad-n] / ˈglæd n /

verb (used with object)

1. to make glad.

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verb (used without object)

1. Obsolete. to be glad.

gladden British  

/ ˈɡlædən /

verb

1. to make or become glad and joyful

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Related Words

See cheer.

Other Word Forms

• gladdener noun
• ungladden verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of gladden

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at glad ¹, -en ¹

Explanation

To gladden is to make someone happy by delighting them or cheering them up. It will gladden your heart to finally find your lost dog. The verb gladden means "to make glad," from the Old English glæd, "bright, shining, gleaming" and also "joyous." So when something gladdens you, like running into your beloved kindergarten teacher, it brightens your whole day. Before the early 14th century, people used the word glad as a verb instead, as in: "It glads my ears to hear such beautiful music."

Example Sentences

The images of Rodri out on the first-team training pitches, running, turning and kicking the ball, will gladden the heart of every Manchester City fan.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2025

It expects him to be a grander figure, a talisman who will gladden the jaded and enthuse audiences the orchestra has yet to enthuse.

From New York Times • May 13, 2023

It will gladden your hearts to know that the man in front of her was also stopped and ticketed.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2022

Rather than being a distressing duty, exclusion seems to gladden his dreary day.

From Washington Post • Jul. 30, 2020

Only a letter bearing news of his return would gladden her, and she would celebrate his homecoming with all the ceremony of a holiday or saint’s festival.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein