joy

¹

[ joi ]

noun

1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation:

   She felt the joy of seeing her son's success.

   Synonyms: rapture

   Antonyms: unhappiness, grief, sorrow, misery

2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated:

   Her prose style is a pure joy.

3. the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.
4. a state of happiness or felicity.

   Synonyms: bliss

verb (used without object)

1. to feel joy; be glad; rejoice.

verb (used with object)

1. Obsolete. to gladden.

Joy

²

or Joye

[ joi ]

noun

1. a female given name.

joy

/ dʒɔɪ /

noun

1. a deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment
2. something causing such a feeling; a source of happiness
3. an outward show of pleasure or delight; rejoicing
4. informal.
   success; satisfaction

   I went to the bank for a loan, but got no joy

verb

1. intr to feel joy
2. obsolete.
   tr to make joyful; gladden

Other Words From

• un·joyed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of joy¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English joy(e), from Old French joie, joye, from Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (taken as feminine singular) of Latin gaudium “joy,” equivalent to gaud- (base of gaudēre “to be glad”) + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of joy¹

C13: from Old French joie, from Latin gaudium joy, from gaudēre to be glad

Idioms and Phrases

see burst with (joy) ; pride and joy .

Synonym Study

See pleasure.

Example Sentences

All good and no complaints, but I was losing some joy for what I was doing.

From Los Angeles Times

Viewers turned in to see Cher’s over-the-top skits and outfits, the era’s biggest stars and the couple’s edgy banter and unbridled joy.

From Los Angeles Times

Holstein says, “When Kelsey was discussing that seed of this idea, I think the question that came up for me was, ‘What happens to joy as we get older?’

From Los Angeles Times

"But I've been a dad for the last 25 years, so it was a real joy for me to be able to write about kids."

From BBC

A positive repeatedly stated by women was the pride they felt in farm life and how it gave them real joy to see their children raised on a farm.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• amusement
• bliss
• charm
• cheer
• comfort
• delight
• elation
• glee
• humor
• pride
• satisfaction
• wonder