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

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

From BBC

The parade winds up with an appearance by the jolly old elf, Santa Claus, and his reindeer.

From Los Angeles Times

Elected on 4 July, packed off to their own constituencies on 30 July, all those nice constituents who said they were going to vote for them now seem jolly cross.

From BBC

There have been many approaches to this material, from farcical comedy to jolly schlock to art film.

From Los Angeles Times

“If it’s not the biggest, it’s jolly well close to it,” Leitch said of the fork fern’s genome.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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