English Explanatory Dictionary

joy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A feeling of extreme happiness or cheerfulness, especially related to the acquisition or expectation of something good.
  2. Anything that causes such a feeling.
  3. Luck or success; a positive outcome.
  4. The sign or exhibition of joy; gaiety; merriment; festivity.
intj
  1. Expressing appreciation and happiness.
verb
  1. To feel joy, to rejoice.
  2. To enjoy.
  3. To give joy to; to congratulate.
  4. To gladden; to make joyful; to exhilarate.
name
  1. A female given name from English.
  2. A surname.

Pronunciation

joi /d͡ʒɔɪ/ en-us-joy.ogg

Word forms

joy joys joying joyed

Etymology

The noun is from Middle English joye, borrowed from Old French joie, from Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (mistaken as feminine singular) of Latin gaudium (“joy”), from gaudēre (“to be glad, rejoice”). Doublet of jo and gaudy (“Oxford college reunion”). Displaced native Old English ġefēa. The interjection is from the noun. The verb is from Middle English joyen, joȝen, joien, from Old French jöir, from the Old French noun (see above).

Synonyms

elation glee blitheness blithesomeness cheerfulness cheeriness contentness contentedness delight delightedness elatedness exuberance exuberantness felicity gaiety gayness gayfulness gladness gladsomeness gleefulness gleesomeness happiness high spirits hilarity jolliness jollity joviality jovialness joy joyfulness joyousness liss merriment merriness mirth mirthfulness pleasedness hurrah aah alright 'ave it aww yeah boo-ya booyah cowabunga get in hoo hoorah hooray hurray huzzah oh yeah OMG result w00t wacko wahoo whee woo wooh

Antonyms

infelicity joylessness unhappiness unjoy blueness tristesse mirthless blues crestfallenness dejection depression despondency distress dolefulness downheartedness drearihead forlornness grief heartsore ill-being melancholia melancholy misery mishappiness mourn prosternation regret rue ruth sadness sorrow sorrowfulness tristfulness undelight woe woefare wretchedness

Related words

Mount Joy

Derived words

bundle of joy cocky's joy comparison is the thief of joy daughter of joy enjoy enjoyment jollily jolliness jolly joyance joyancy joyant joy-bell joy bell joy buzzer joy division joydom joyflight joyful joyfully joyfulness joygasm joy girl joyhood joyhop joy house joyish joy juice joy killer joyless joylessly joylessness joylike joyment joyness joyous joyously joyousness joypad joypop joy powder joy ride joyride joysome joysomeness joystick joy-to-stuff ratio joy toy joy wheel jump for joy kill-joy killjoy leap for joy no joy non-joyous oh joy overjoy pride and joy rejoice rejoicement
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