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View synonyms for happy
happy
adjective
, hap·pi·er, hap·pi·est.
- delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing:
I'm so happy to see you!
Synonyms: satisfied, blissful, contented, merry, cheerful, blithe, joyful, joyous
Antonyms: sad - characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy:
a happy mood;
a happy frame of mind. - willing to be helpful, as with assistance, a contribution, or participation:
We’ll be happy to bring a couple of salads to the party. - favored by fortune; fortunate or lucky:
Our home country is a happy, fruitful land.
Synonyms: prosperous, successful, propitious, favorable - (used as part of an expression of good wishes on a special occasion):
Happy Valentine’s Day to my husband.
Happy Birthday, Grandpa! - apt or felicitous, as actions, utterances, or ideas:
Their collaboration was a happy accident.
Synonyms: pertinent, opportune, fitting, appropriate - obsessed by or quick to use the item indicated (usually used in combination):
He was a trigger-happy gangster.
Everybody is gadget-happy these days.
/ ˈhæpɪ /
adjective
- feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased
- I'd be happy to show you around
- the happy position of not having to work
- aptly expressed; appropriate
a happy turn of phrase - informal.
postpositive
slightly intoxicated
interjection
- happy birthday
happy Christmas
combining form
- denoting excessive enthusiasm for or devotion to
gun-happy
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Derived Forms
- ˈhappiness, noun
- ˈhappily, adverb
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Other Words From
- o·ver·hap·py adjective
- qua·si-hap·py adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
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Idioms and Phrases
More idioms and phrases containing happy
- many happy returns
- trigger happy
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Example Sentences
"Being a party leader - I think you can hear this from any party leader - is not easy, and you never are going to make everybody happy in your party," she said.
The goal, she believes, “is be No. 5 and be happy.”
But while Nkasi is happy to experiment with the new technology, some see it as a threat to African culture.
By all accounts, they were a happy, close-knit couple.
It’s the media who keep dragging it in - asking Jon if he will fight me and he is not happy about it, evidently.
Related Words
- cheerful
- delighted
- ecstatic
- elated
- enraptured
- exultant
- glad
- gleeful
- jolly
- joyful
- joyous
- jubilant
- merry
- mirthful
- overjoyed
- thrilled
- up
- upbeat
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When To Use
What are other ways to say happy?
The adjective happy is sometimes used to describe things that are favored by fortune. How does it differ from fortunate and lucky? Find out on Thesaurus.com
More About Happy
What is a basic definition of happy?
Happy describes a feeling of joy, delight, or glee. It also describes something that is related to or shows joy. Happy can describe someone being willing to do something or be helpful. Happy is used in many expressions that wish good tidings to another person. Happy has a few other senses as an adjective.
Happy describes feeling really good, as when a person in a good mood that makes them smile. Happiness refers to this positive emotion. Happily means in a happy way.
Real-life examples: Everybody has something that makes them happy. Cute animals, presents, compliments, and loved ones make most people feel happy.
Used in a sentence: The surprise birthday party really made Abdul happy.
Happy also describes something that shows or is related to feelings of happiness and joy.
Used in a sentence: The friendly clown had a happy smile.
Happy describes someone being willing to do something, especially to help or assist someone else. They don’t think whatever they will do is a problem or a chore.
Real-life examples: Many experts are happy to show off their knowledge. Salespeople are often happy to explain things to customers if it means selling more items.
Used in a sentence: I’d be happy to give you a ride to the mall since I was going there anyway.
The word happy is used in many greetings and expressions that wish a person well or wish that they have a good future.
Used in a sentence: Happy birthday!
Where does happy come from?
The first records of happy come from around 1350. It comes from Middle English and is a combination of the word hap, meaning “a person’s luck or lot,” and the suffix –y meaning “characterized by.” The word hap comes from the Old Norse happ, meaning “luck” or “chance.”
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How is happy used in real life?
Try using happy!
Which of the following words is a synonym of happy?
- sad
- angry
- cheerful
- scared
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.