happinesshap‧pi‧ness /ˈhæpinəs/ ●●● W3 noun [uncountable] 
Juliet’s eyes shone with happiness. We want our children to have the best possible chance of happiness.► see thesaurus at pleasureCOLLOCATIONSadjectivesgreat happiness (=a lot of happiness)· His grandchildren bring him great happiness.true/real happiness (=having all the qualities which happiness should have)· At last, she found true happiness with a man she loved.perfect/pure/sheer happiness (=happiness that is as good as it can be)· The birth of my child was a moment of sheer happiness.human happiness (=happiness felt by people)· One of the greatest sources of human happiness is love.personal happiness· In Oxford, he at last found personal happiness and intellectual fulfilment.lasting happiness (=happiness that continues)· Leonie had found a lasting happiness in her relationship with Jim.future happiness· Living together before you marry is no guarantee of future happiness.domestic happiness (=happiness that comes from family relationships and life at home)· After six years with Joe, the normality of domestic happiness bored her.marital happiness (=happiness that comes from being married)· Does being similar to your wife or husband lead to marital happiness?verbsfind happiness· It’s a story about a music composer who unexpectedly finds happiness as a teacher.bring (somebody) happiness (=make someone happy)· He wrongly believes that money can bring happiness.achieve happiness· He would never achieve true happiness until he took control of his life.be filled with happiness· As I drove back home, I was filled with happiness.glow with happiness (=look very happy)· The bride’s face seemed to glow with happiness.wish somebody (every) happiness/wish (every) happiness to somebody (=say that you hope someone will have a happy life)· I would like you to join me in wishing every happiness to Annabelle and Steven.phrasesa feeling of happiness· Being by the ocean gave her a feeling of great happiness.the pursuit of happiness (=the act of trying to achieve happiness)· The Declaration of Independence guarantees ‘liberty’ and ‘the pursuit of happiness.’THESAURUShappiness the feeling of being happy: · Happiness is more important than money.· I could see the happiness in her eyes.pleasure the feeling you have when you enjoy doing something, or when something happens that you enjoy: · Are you taking the trip for business or pleasure?· His music has given pleasure to a great many people over the years.cheerfulness happy feelings, which show in your expression, your voice, and your behaviour: · 'Morning, everybody!' she said with a loud cheerfulness.· His normal cheerfulness seemed to have returned.satisfaction the feeling you have when you have done something well, or when something is as good as it should be: · She stood back and looked at her work with satisfaction.· He gets a lot of satisfaction from helping young people in his coaching job.contentment a quietly happy and satisfied feeling: · Joey sighed with contentment, snuggling down in his warm bed.great happinessjoy especially written a feeling of great happiness: · The sisters hugged and cried tears of joy.· It was a day of great joy for the whole town.· Most people would be jumping with joy.delight the feeling you have when you are very pleased and excited because something good has happened: · They watched with delight as their new son started walking.· To her delight, she discovered the perfect wedding present.bliss a feeling of very great happiness and great pleasure – used when something has a great effect on your senses: · Lying in the warm sun and listening to the sea felt like sheer bliss (=complete bliss).· Her idea of bliss is to be curled up on the sofa watching a romantic comedy with a big bowl of popcorn.· The happy couple looked a picture of domestic bliss.elation written a feeling of great happiness and excitement, especially because you have achieved something or something good has happened to you: · As they reached the top, the climbers experienced a moment of elation.· Her mood suddenly changed from tears and misery to a feeling of elation.euphoria an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement, especially because you have achieved something, or because of the effects of a drug: · The euphoria that new parents feel quickly changes to exhaustion.· The euphoria of Ireland’s amazing victory over England last Sunday has died away.· The drug produces a feeling of euphoria.ecstasy an extremely strong feeling of happiness and pleasure, especially sexual pleasure: · It was a moment of sheer ecstasy (=complete ecstasy).· the ecstasy of their love-making
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Happiness is more important than money.
- I doubt she'll find happiness with Gary.
- Money is not the key to happiness.
- Pauline was willing to do anything for her children's happiness.
- Frankly, she could survive in great happiness for a very long time without ever setting eyes on him again.
- I began to realize that there was no happiness for me in life.
- It makes me very happy but it's a frightening kind of happiness.
- On the lower deck, where all the people are, there is the sense of an outrageous and clarifying happiness.
- The suffering of the present ... is unlikely to be redeemed by a future of universal happiness.
- There was only one small patch of disappointment in his vista of happiness.
THESAURUS
the feeling of being happy: · Happiness is more important than money.· I could see the happiness in her eyes.
the feeling you have when you enjoy doing something, or when something happens that you enjoy: · Are you taking the trip for business or pleasure?· His music has given pleasure to a great many people over the years.
happy feelings, which show in your expression, your voice, and your behaviour: · 'Morning, everybody!' she said with a loud cheerfulness.· His normal cheerfulness seemed to have returned.
the feeling you have when you have done something well, or when something is as good as it should be: · She stood back and looked at her work with satisfaction.· He gets a lot of satisfaction from helping young people in his coaching job.
a quietly happy and satisfied feeling: · Joey sighed with contentment, snuggling down in his warm bed.
great happiness especially written a feeling of great happiness: · The sisters hugged and cried tears of joy.· It was a day of great joy for the whole town.· Most people would be jumping with joy.
the feeling you have when you are very pleased and excited because something good has happened: · They watched with delight as their new son started walking.· To her delight, she discovered the perfect wedding present.
a feeling of very great happiness and great pleasure – used when something has a great effect on your senses: · Lying in the warm sun and listening to the sea felt like sheer bliss (=complete bliss).· Her idea of bliss is to be curled up on the sofa watching a romantic comedy with a big bowl of popcorn.· The happy couple looked a picture of domestic bliss.
written a feeling of great happiness and excitement, especially because you have achieved something or something good has happened to you: · As they reached the top, the climbers experienced a moment of elation.· Her mood suddenly changed from tears and misery to a feeling of elation.
an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement, especially because you have achieved something, or because of the effects of a drug: · The euphoria that new parents feel quickly changes to exhaustion.· The euphoria of Ireland’s amazing victory over England last Sunday has died away.· The drug produces a feeling of euphoria.
an extremely strong feeling of happiness and pleasure, especially sexual pleasure: · It was a moment of sheer ecstasy (=complete ecstasy).· the ecstasy of their love-making
Longman Language Activatora happy feeling · Happiness is more important than money.· Pauline was willing to do anything for her children's happiness.find happiness (=become happy) · I doubt she'll find happiness with Gary.
the feeling you have when you are doing something you enjoy or when something very nice had happened to you: · Most craftsmen get a lot of pleasure out of making things.for pleasure: · Are you taking the trip for business or pleasure?give/bring pleasure: · His music has brought pleasure to people all over the world.take pleasure in (doing) something: · Cooper took obvious pleasure in announcing the merger.
especially written a feeling of great happiness, often because something good has happened: · It's hard to describe the joy we felt, seeing each other again after so many years.· The time we spent together in the Bahamas was pure joy.bring joy to somebody: · The toys will bring great joy to countless children.with joy: · People at the wedding laughed and danced with joy.jump/shout/yell etc for joy: · I was so excited about getting the job, I nearly jumped for joy.tears/shouts/cries etc of joy: · The sisters hugged and cried tears of joy.
great happiness and excitement, especially about something good that has happened: · Imagine our delight when we saw your article in the New Yorker.delight at/in: · Paul's delight at being asked to play the piano for us was clear.to somebody's delight: · To the audience's delight, she agreed to do another number.take delight in (doing) something: · Horton takes great delight in learning.with delight: · Robin laughed with delight as the birthday cake was carried in.
a quietly happy and satisfied feeling: · Joey sighed with contentment, snuggling down in his warm bed.
a feeling of very deep happiness and extreme pleasure: · A feeling of bliss came over him as he fell asleep.sheer/pure bliss: · Lying in the warm sun, listening to the sea was sheer bliss.wedded/marital bliss: · After what appeared to be nine years of wedded bliss, the couple has separated.
an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement that continues for a short time: · The whole country experienced a period of euphoria after winning the war.· The euphoria that new parents feel quickly changes to exhaustion.
written a strong feeling of happiness, excitement, and pride: · As he spoke you could hear the elation in his voice.· The troops sense of elation at the victory was not to last.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadjectives I was filled with admiration for her.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
(=a lot of happiness)· His grandchildren bring him great happiness.
(=having all the qualities which happiness should have)· At last, she found true happiness with a man she loved.
(=happiness that is as good as it can be)· The birth of my child was a moment of sheer happiness.
(=happiness felt by people)· One of the greatest sources of human happiness is love.
· In Oxford, he at last found personal happiness and intellectual fulfilment.
(=happiness that continues)· Leonie had found a lasting happiness in her relationship with Jim.
· Living together before you marry is no guarantee of future happiness.
(=happiness that comes from family relationships and life at home)· After six years with Joe, the normality of domestic happiness bored her.
(=happiness that comes from being married)· Does being similar to your wife or husband lead to marital happiness?
verbs· It’s a story about a music composer who unexpectedly finds happiness as a teacher.
(=make someone happy)· He wrongly believes that money can bring happiness.
· He would never achieve true happiness until he took control of his life.
· As I drove back home, I was filled with happiness.
(=look very happy)· The bride’s face seemed to glow with happiness.
(=say that you hope someone will have a happy life)· I would like you to join me in wishing every happiness to Annabelle and Steven.
phrases· Being by the ocean gave her a feeling of great happiness.
(=the act of trying to achieve happiness)· The Declaration of Independence guarantees ‘liberty’ and ‘the pursuit of happiness.’
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I was filled with admiration for her.· We are in control of our future and our happiness.· Living together before you marry is no guarantee of future happiness.· That is my point: you have cast aside the probability of future happiness on a whim.· Suddenly her whole future happiness hinged on Maria Luisa's choice.· When children overdo self-restraint, problems arise which can sometimes affect their future happiness.· No, Harry, it's your future happiness that bothers me.· We are soon, however, encouraged by society to look to the future for our happiness.· And all for her threat of future happiness.
· Suddenly I was full of hope again, and I gave a great shout of happiness.· Tilda cared nothing for the future, and had, as a result, a great capacity for happiness.· Many adult children gain great happiness from caring for a much-loved parent in the closing years of their life.· Frankly, she could survive in great happiness for a very long time without ever setting eyes on him again.· Instead his hands were eagerly outstretched, and she moved towards him knowing that life could hold no greater happiness than this.· The sum total of individual votes ought therefore to promote the utilitarian objective of the greatest happiness of the greatest number.· Valerie, his second wife, brought him great happiness.· It will be a great happiness to meet George MacDonald in eternity, if I get there as well.
· In this connection Hume propounds a kind of utilitarianism for which the good is essentially the useful, in terms of promoting human happiness.· A society that values freedom, sexuality, and human happiness can hardly balk at this inspiring fulfillment of its ideal.· Increasing human happiness? another chancy one that.· This is the guilt which plagues human happiness and interferes with the happiness of our sexuality.· Why else this perpetual disappointment when she only wanted normal human happiness?
· Providing good housing Decent, affordable and safe housing is vital to personal happiness and family life.· This is the reason that you have not had all of the personal success and happiness you desire.· If she stays she is trapped in a marriage and lifestyle which offers scant prospect of achieving personal happiness.· More seriously, our families are the index of our own personal and marital happiness.
· Will you grasp the courage to discover what true happiness is?· But despite his hard work I thought he lacked true happiness and peace of mind.· This will help us not to confuse physical pleasure with true happiness or the spiritual reality of joy.· Marje found the love she so desperately needed, and true happiness, in the arms of Levy.· This is why the search for true happiness will inevitably start to expose the shallowness of our lives.· The first beatitude shocks us with this blunt realization that true happiness is reserved for children and the poor.· The by-product of suffering brought true happiness.· Truly then, the Beatitudes test the personal integrity of our lives and of our interpretation of true happiness.
VERB· His money had not brought happiness and perhaps it had contributed to his strange sense of values.· If we were sad, a new day would bring us happiness.· Ask each other what one manageable action you can perform which will bring the other happiness.· You have brought happiness to a house where it has never really been before.· Grandmother I am sure your grandmother would have wanted you to spend it on something that would bring you happiness.· But don't be hoodwinked into thinking that gifts and other offerings are the way to bring lasting happiness.· This will automatically bring more happiness, contentment and peace into our lives.
· Her heart was galloping so fast that she felt quite giddy with happiness.· Casaubon can not feel the happiness he expected from his engagement but will not admit to himself his endemic loneliness.· We all of us feel your happiness and we have come to celebrate it with you, and with your families.· Miguel laughed, feeling a strange happiness.· And I felt full of happiness.· In that instant, Juliet felt a surge of happiness that filled her chest and almost engulfed her.· I felt as if our happiness depended upon it.
· She was filled with happiness, driving to Trelorne.· More than that-it fills me with happiness that you were able, for your own sake, to speak to me so.
· Durham was the place where he had found happiness.· Will Gary and Gale find happiness together at last?· She had found her island of happiness and would never swim away from it.· They hold hands, they tell each other their stories, they find happiness again.· But she had found a deal of happiness in her family.· Frankenstein would not give me a wife, but he hoped to find happiness with a wife of his own.· And yet Charles Henstock had found a great deal of happiness in later life since his marriage to Dimity.· In that giving she found completion and happiness beyond all expectation.
· Her face seems to glow with happiness as if a vision has of a sudden become reality.· Every bride looks beautiful - this is partly because of what she is wearing and partly because she is usually glowing with happiness.· She didn't need a mirror to know her face was glowing with happiness.
· Because I would like you to join me in wishing every happiness to Annabelle and Steven.· I shall put this in with your Christmas card, so here's wishing you every happiness at Christmas.· We wish Ann every happiness in her new home.· Sheena and Howard have since moved to Somerset and we wish them every happiness in their new home.· And may I wish you much happiness, Mrs Hendry.· She was surprised when Joe smiled at her and wished them both happiness.· Mark Phillips's father, Major Peter Phillips, wished the couple happiness yesterday.· The girls sincerely loved Tess and wished for her happiness.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- Harry felt a glow of pleasure - not least because his darling Alice was making such an obvious success of her career.
- He looked fantastic and had actually acquired quite a suntan - or was it just a glow of happiness?
- Shamlou experienced a glow of satisfaction.
- By sheer luck I had given Reuters their biggest news scoop since the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
- He made it through sheer luck and by attaching himself to one guy after another and then stepping over them.
- She flung out her hands and caught the edge of the stone by sheer luck.
- So I guessed right; sheer luck.
- Would anybody see if I just nudged them over the edge for their sheer stupidity?
WORD FAMILYnounhappiness ≠ unhappinessadjectivehappy ≠ unhappyadverbhappily ≠ unhappily
the state of being happy: Juliet’s eyes shone with happiness. We want our children to have the best possible chance of happiness.► see thesaurus at pleasureCOLLOCATIONSadjectivesgreat happiness (=a lot of happiness)· His grandchildren bring him great happiness.true/real happiness (=having all the qualities which happiness should have)· At last, she found true happiness with a man she loved.perfect/pure/sheer happiness (=happiness that is as good as it can be)· The birth of my child was a moment of sheer happiness.human happiness (=happiness felt by people)· One of the greatest sources of human happiness is love.personal happiness· In Oxford, he at last found personal happiness and intellectual fulfilment.lasting happiness (=happiness that continues)· Leonie had found a lasting happiness in her relationship with Jim.future happiness· Living together before you marry is no guarantee of future happiness.domestic happiness (=happiness that comes from family relationships and life at home)· After six years with Joe, the normality of domestic happiness bored her.marital happiness (=happiness that comes from being married)· Does being similar to your wife or husband lead to marital happiness?verbsfind happiness· It’s a story about a music composer who unexpectedly finds happiness as a teacher.bring (somebody) happiness (=make someone happy)· He wrongly believes that money can bring happiness.achieve happiness· He would never achieve true happiness until he took control of his life.be filled with happiness· As I drove back home, I was filled with happiness.glow with happiness (=look very happy)· The bride’s face seemed to glow with happiness.wish somebody (every) happiness/wish (every) happiness to somebody (=say that you hope someone will have a happy life)· I would like you to join me in wishing every happiness to Annabelle and Steven.phrasesa feeling of happiness· Being by the ocean gave her a feeling of great happiness.the pursuit of happiness (=the act of trying to achieve happiness)· The Declaration of Independence guarantees ‘liberty’ and ‘the pursuit of happiness.’THESAURUShappiness the feeling of being happy: · Happiness is more important than money.· I could see the happiness in her eyes.pleasure the feeling you have when you enjoy doing something, or when something happens that you enjoy: · Are you taking the trip for business or pleasure?· His music has given pleasure to a great many people over the years.cheerfulness happy feelings, which show in your expression, your voice, and your behaviour: · 'Morning, everybody!' she said with a loud cheerfulness.· His normal cheerfulness seemed to have returned.satisfaction the feeling you have when you have done something well, or when something is as good as it should be: · She stood back and looked at her work with satisfaction.· He gets a lot of satisfaction from helping young people in his coaching job.contentment a quietly happy and satisfied feeling: · Joey sighed with contentment, snuggling down in his warm bed.great happinessjoy especially written a feeling of great happiness: · The sisters hugged and cried tears of joy.· It was a day of great joy for the whole town.· Most people would be jumping with joy.delight the feeling you have when you are very pleased and excited because something good has happened: · They watched with delight as their new son started walking.· To her delight, she discovered the perfect wedding present.bliss a feeling of very great happiness and great pleasure – used when something has a great effect on your senses: · Lying in the warm sun and listening to the sea felt like sheer bliss (=complete bliss).· Her idea of bliss is to be curled up on the sofa watching a romantic comedy with a big bowl of popcorn.· The happy couple looked a picture of domestic bliss.elation written a feeling of great happiness and excitement, especially because you have achieved something or something good has happened to you: · As they reached the top, the climbers experienced a moment of elation.· Her mood suddenly changed from tears and misery to a feeling of elation.euphoria an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement, especially because you have achieved something, or because of the effects of a drug: · The euphoria that new parents feel quickly changes to exhaustion.· The euphoria of Ireland’s amazing victory over England last Sunday has died away.· The drug produces a feeling of euphoria.ecstasy an extremely strong feeling of happiness and pleasure, especially sexual pleasure: · It was a moment of sheer ecstasy (=complete ecstasy).· the ecstasy of their love-making