joyful

[ joi-fuhl ]

adjective

1. full of joy, as a person or one's heart; glad; delighted.

   Synonyms: jubilant, elated, buoyant, blithe, happy, joyous

   Antonyms: melancholy

2. showing or expressing joy, as looks, actions, or speech.
3. causing or bringing joy, as an event, a sight, or news; delightful:

   the joyful announcement of their marriage.

joyful

/ ˈdʒɔɪfʊl /

adjective

1. full of joy; elated
2. expressing or producing joy

   a joyful look

   a joyful occasion

Derived Forms

• ˈjoyfulness, noun
• ˈjoyfully, adverb

Other Words From

• joyful·ly adverb
• joyful·ness noun
• over·joyful adjective
• over·joyful·ly adverb
• over·joyful·ness noun
• un·joyful adjective
• un·joyful·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of joyful¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; joy + -ful

Example Sentences

It’s lucky that they find something to be so joyful about, Principal Jennifer Rambo said on a recent sunny afternoon, because things have been a mess for the past seven weeks.

From Salon

The producer and erstwhile member of the xx beat his own high standards with this year’s “In Waves,” a joyful and heartfelt insistence on the redemptive power of the club.

From Los Angeles Times

More tears, and this time they were joyful.

From BBC

It’s perfunctory but it is less than joyful to behold.

From Salon

“I’ve been writing my whole life. So, to get global recognition when competing with creators from across the world, has been a joyful experience,” she tells me.

From BBC

Related Words

• cheerful
• cheery
• ecstatic
• elated
• enjoyable
• festive
• heartening
• joyous
• jubilant
• lighthearted
• merry
• pleasurable
• rapturous
• upbeat