Synonyms: delight, pleasure, triumph, satisfaction More Synonyms of joy
2. countable noun
A joy is something or someone that makes you feel happy or gives you great pleasure.
One of the joys of being alone is the freedom to do exactly as you choose. [+ of]
It was a joy to see her looking so well.
3. uncountable noun
If you get no joy, you do not have success or luck in achieving what you are trying to do.
[British, informal]
They expect no joy from the vote itself. [+ from]
If you don't get any joy, get in touch with your local councillor.
4.
See to jump for joy
5. one's pride and joy
More Synonyms of joy
joy in British English
(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. British informal
success; satisfaction
I went to the bank for a loan, but got no joy
verb
5. (intransitive)
to feel joy
6. (transitive) obsolete
to make joyful; gladden
Word origin
C13: from Old French joie, from Latin gaudium joy, from gaudēre to be glad
Joy in American English
(dʒɔɪ)
noun
a feminine name
joy in American English
(dʒɔɪ)
noun
1.
a very glad feeling; happiness; great pleasure; delight
2.
anything causing such feeling
3.
the expression or showing of such feeling
verb intransitive
4.
to be full of joy; rejoice
verb transitive Archaic
5.
to make joyful
6.
to enjoy
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈpleasure
Word origin
ME joie < OFr < LL gaudia, orig. pl. of L gaudium, joy < IE base *gāu-, to rejoice > Gr gēthein, to rejoice, MIr gūaire, noble
COBUILD Collocations
joy
bring joy
discover the joys of
great joy
pure joy
rediscover the joys of
sheer joy
short-lived joy
unbridled joy
utter joy
Examples of 'joy' in a sentence
joy
Jumping in the ocean is one of the great joys in my life.
The Sun (2016)
What a joy to see a lightweight film beautifully directed as well as acted.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
There are few cars that offer this much joy yet remain an approachable proposition.
The Sun (2016)
The tears came from joy and pride.
The Sun (2016)
It gives me so much joy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We'll all have that feeling of pride and joy and love.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You thought you knew what, and who, brings you true joy and pleasure.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Through your pain others will find joy, Colin.
The Sun (2017)
Time and time again I've seen the joy and gratitude they bring.
The Sun (2016)
We love the sheer joy of this.
The Sun (2015)
Youth ministry involves the dynamics of failed responsibility as well as the joy of shared success.
Christianity Today (2000)
This photo shows the wonderful joy of life.
The Sun (2012)
You suffer when they lose and feel joy when they win.
The Sun (2015)
It was a moment of intense joy and deep sadness.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
What a joy to see democracy at work.
The Sun (2012)
You gave us so much joy and hope.
The Sun (2009)
The garden was my pride and joy and took us years to complete.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
How can he find joy in childhood when he sees no joy in you?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
While he was with us our lives were filled with joy and happiness.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Their faces brim with the sheer joy of town wealth buying a day of country pleasure.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Now they feel only joy.
The Sun (2016)
Quotations
But headlong joy is ever on the wingJohn MiltonThe Passion
Things won are done; joy's soul lies in the doingWilliam ShakespeareTroilus and Cressida
Joy cometh in the morningBible: Psalms 5
In other languages
joy
British English: joy /dʒɔɪ/ NOUN
Joy is a feeling of great happiness.
He shouted with joy.
American English: joy
Arabic: بَهْجَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: alegria
Chinese: 欢乐
Croatian: radost
Czech: radost
Danish: glæde
Dutch: vreugde
European Spanish: alegría
Finnish: ilo
French: joie
German: Freude
Greek: χαρά
Italian: gioia
Japanese: 喜び
Korean: 기쁨
Norwegian: glede
Polish: radość
European Portuguese: alegria
Romanian: bucurie
Russian: радость
Latin American Spanish: alegría
Swedish: glädje
Thai: ความยินดี
Turkish: neşe
Ukrainian: радість
Vietnamese: sự vui mừng
All related terms of 'joy'
joy-pop
to inject a narcotic drug under the skin, esp. in small quantities and infrequently
bring joy
Joy is a feeling of great happiness.
great joy
Joy is a feeling of great happiness.
joy ride
an automobile ride merely for pleasure, often at a reckless speed and sometimes, specif., in a stolen car
joy stick
a lever or pillar , usually fitted with a handwheel , used to control the movements of an aircraft
pure joy
Joy is a feeling of great happiness.
sheer joy
Joy is a feeling of great happiness.
utter joy
Joy is a feeling of great happiness.
cocky's joy
golden syrup
unbridled joy
Joy is a feeling of great happiness.
traveller's joy
a ranunculaceous Old World climbing plant, Clematis vitalba , having white flowers and heads of feathery plumed fruits
joyridden
a ride taken for pleasure in a car , esp in a stolen car driven recklessly
killjoy
If you call someone a killjoy , you are critical of them because they stop other people from enjoying themselves, often by reminding them of something unpleasant .
short-lived joy
Joy is a feeling of great happiness.
to jump for joy
If you say that someone is jumping for joy , you mean that they are very pleased or happy about something.
joyride
If someone goes on a joyride , they steal a car and drive around in it at high speed .
joyrider
A joyrider is someone who steals cars in order to drive around in them at high speed .
joyriding
Joyriding is the crime of stealing a car and driving around in it at high speed .
one's pride and joy
Someone or something that is your pride and joy is very important to you and makes you feel very happy .
joyrode
a ride taken for pleasure in a car , esp in a stolen car driven recklessly
control column
a lever or pillar , usually fitted with a handwheel , used to control the movements of an aircraft
control stick
the lever by which a pilot controls the lateral and longitudinal movements of an aircraft
Chinese translation of 'joy'
joy
(dʒɔɪ)
n
(u) (= happiness) 快乐(樂) (kuàilè)
(c) (= delight) 愉悦(悅) (yúyuè) (种(種), zhǒng)
1 (noun)
Definition
deep happiness and contentment
Salter shouted with joy.
Synonyms
delight
To my delight, the plan worked perfectly.
pleasure
We exclaimed with pleasure when we saw them.
triumph
Her sense of triumph was short-lived.
satisfaction
She felt a small glow of satisfaction.
happiness
I think she was looking for happiness.
ecstasy
the agony and ecstasy of holiday romance
enjoyment
She ate with great enjoyment.
bliss
It was a scene of such domestic bliss.
transport
transports of joy
euphoria
There was euphoria when the election result was announced.
festivity
felicity
a period of domestic felicity
glee
His victory was greeted with glee.
exuberance
rapture
His speech was received with rapture by his supporters.
elation
His supporters have reacted to the news with elation.
exhilaration
A wave of exhilaration swept through me.
radiance
There was a new radiance about her.
gaiety (old-fashioned)
There was a bright, infectious gaiety in the children's laughter.
jubilation
The resignations were greeted by jubilation on the streets of Sofia.
hilarity
The report in the local paper caught the mood of hilarity.
exaltation
The city was swept up in the mood of exaltation.
ebullience (old-fashioned)
exultation
I felt a tremendous sense of relief and exultation.
gladness
joyfulness
ravishment
Opposites
despair
,
grief
,
misery
,
sorrow
,
unhappiness
,
tribulation
2 (noun)
Definition
something that brings deep happiness
one of the joys of being a chef
Synonyms
treasure
Charlie? Oh he's a treasure, he's so kind.
wonder
treat
It's a real treat to see someone doing justice to the film.
prize
delight
pride
This glittering dress is the pride of her collection.
charm
thrill
idiom
See no joy
Quotations
But headlong joy is ever on the wing [John Milton – The Passion]Things won are done; joy's soul lies in the doing [William Shakespeare – Troilus and Cressida]Joy cometh in the morning [Bible: Psalms 5]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bliss
Definition
perfect happiness
It was a scene of such domestic bliss.
Synonyms
joy,
ecstasy,
euphoria,
rapture,
nirvana,
felicity,
gladness,
blissfulness,
delight,
pleasure,
heaven (informal),
satisfaction,
happiness,
paradise
in the sense of ecstasy
Definition
a state of extreme delight or joy
the agony and ecstasy of holiday romance
Synonyms
rapture,
delight,
joy,
enthusiasm,
frenzy,
bliss,
trance,
euphoria,
fervour,
elation,
rhapsody,
exaltation,
transport,
ravishment
in the sense of elation
Definition
a feeling of great happiness and excitement
His supporters have reacted to the news with elation.
Synonyms
joy,
delight,
thrill,
excitement,
ecstasy,
bliss,
euphoria,
glee,
rapture,
high spirits,
exhilaration,
jubilation,
exaltation,
exultation,
joyfulness,
joyousness
Synonyms of 'joy'
joy
Explore 'joy' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of enjoyment
She ate with great enjoyment.
Synonyms
pleasure,
liking,
fun,
delight,
entertainment,
joy,
satisfaction,
happiness,
relish,
recreation,
amusement,
indulgence,
diversion,
zest,
gratification,
gusto,
gladness,
delectation (formal),
beer and skittles (informal)
in the sense of euphoria
Definition
a feeling of great but often unjustified or exaggerated happiness
There was euphoria when the election result was announced.
Synonyms
elation,
joy,
ecstasy,
bliss,
glee,
rapture,
high spirits,
exhilaration,
jubilation,
intoxication,
transport,
exaltation,
joyousness
in the sense of exaltation
The city was swept up in the mood of exaltation.
Synonyms
elation,
delight,
joy,
excitement,
inspiration,
ecstasy,
stimulation,
bliss,
transport,
animation,
elevation,
rapture,
exhilaration,
jubilation,
exultation,
joyousness
in the sense of exhilaration
A wave of exhilaration swept through me.
Synonyms
excitement,
delight,
joy,
happiness,
animation,
high spirits,
elation,
mirth,
gaiety (old-fashioned),
hilarity,
exaltation,
cheerfulness,
vivacity,
liveliness,
gladness,
joyfulness,
sprightliness,
gleefulness
in the sense of exultation
I felt a tremendous sense of relief and exultation.
Synonyms
joy,
delight,
celebration,
rejoicing,
glee,
high spirits,
elation,
transport,
jubilation,
joyousness,
merriness
in the sense of felicity
Definition
great happiness and pleasure
a period of domestic felicity
Synonyms
happiness,
joy,
ecstasy,
bliss,
delectation (formal),
blessedness,
blissfulness
in the sense of gaiety
Definition
a state of lively good spirits
There was a bright, infectious gaiety in the children's laughter.
Synonyms
cheerfulness,
glee,
good humour,
buoyancy,
happiness,
animation,
exuberance,
high spirits,
elation,
exhilaration,
hilarity,
merriment,
joie de vivre,
good cheer,
vivacity,
jollity,
liveliness,
gladness,
effervescence,
light-heartedness,
joyousness,
blitheness,
blithesomeness (literary)
in the sense of gladness
Synonyms
happiness,
delight,
pleasure,
joy,
animation,
felicity,
glee,
high spirits,
mirth,
gaiety,
hilarity,
cheerfulness,
jollity,
joyousness,
blitheness
in the sense of glee
Definition
great merriment or joy, esp. caused by the misfortune of another person
His victory was greeted with glee.
Synonyms
delight,
joy,
triumph,
exuberance,
elation,
exhilaration,
mirth,
hilarity,
merriment,
exultation,
gladness,
joyfulness,
joyousness
in the sense of happiness
I think she was looking for happiness.
Synonyms
pleasure,
delight,
joy,
cheer,
satisfaction,
prosperity,
ecstasy,
enjoyment,
bliss,
felicity,
exuberance,
contentment,
wellbeing,
high spirits,
elation,
gaiety (old-fashioned),
jubilation,
merriment,
cheerfulness,
gladness,
beatitude,
cheeriness,
blessedness,
light-heartedness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hilarity
The report in the local paper caught the mood of hilarity.
Synonyms
merriment,
high spirits,
mirth,
gaiety (old-fashioned),
laughter,
amusement,
glee,
exuberance,
exhilaration,
cheerfulness,
jollity,
levity,
conviviality,
joviality,
boisterousness,
joyousness,
jollification
in the sense of jubilation
Definition
a feeling of great joy and celebration
The resignations were greeted by jubilation on the streets of Sofia.
Synonyms
joy,
triumph,
celebration,
excitement,
ecstasy,
jubilee,
festivity,
elation,
jamboree,
exultation
in the sense of pleasure
Definition
a feeling of happiness and contentment
We exclaimed with pleasure when we saw them.
Synonyms
happiness,
delight,
satisfaction,
enjoyment,
bliss,
gratification,
contentment,
gladness,
delectation (formal)
in the sense of pride
Definition
one of the better or most admirable parts of something
This glittering dress is the pride of her collection.
Synonyms
elite,
pick,
best,
choice,
flower,
prize,
cream,
glory,
boast,
treasure,
jewel,
gem,
pride and joy
in the sense of radiance
There was a new radiance about her.
Synonyms
happiness,
delight,
pleasure,
joy,
warmth,
rapture,
elation,
gaiety (old-fashioned)
in the sense of rapture
Definition
extreme happiness or delight
His speech was received with rapture by his supporters.
Synonyms
ecstasy,
delight,
enthusiasm,
joy,
transport,
spell,
happiness,
bliss,
euphoria,
felicity,
rhapsody,
exaltation,
cloud nine (informal),
seventh heaven,
delectation (formal),
beatitude,
ravishment
in the sense of satisfaction
Definition
the pleasure obtained from the fulfilment of a desire
She felt a small glow of satisfaction.
Synonyms
fulfilment,
pleasure,
achievement,
joy,
triumph,
happiness,
relish,
glee,
gratification,
pride,
complacency
in the sense of transport
Definition
ecstasy or rapture
transports of joy
Synonyms
ecstasy,
delight,
heaven (informal),
happiness,
bliss,
euphoria,
rapture,
enchantment,
cloud nine (informal),
seventh heaven,
ravishment
in the sense of treat
Definition
any delightful surprise or specially pleasant occasion
It's a real treat to see someone doing justice to the film.
Synonyms
pleasure,
delight,
joy,
thrill,
satisfaction,
enjoyment,
gratification,
source of pleasure,
fun
in the sense of triumph
Definition
the feeling of great happiness resulting from a victory or major achievement