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

Sentiments to gladden the hearts of Ukrainian diplomats and days after President Zelenksy's appeal, dozens of hopeful volunteers headed to the Ukrainian embassy in Abuja, with ambitions of enlisting.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2022

The word from Washington is sure to gladden the Newsom campaign.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 12, 2021

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

From Washington Post • Jul. 30, 2020

The modest two-story, 1950s building used to be a neighborhood bank, and it still looks it, blending right into a raucous, fine-grained urban melee that would gladden the heart of Jane Jacobs.

From New York Times • Jun. 28, 2018

Of course not—what about her would gladden a witch?

From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu