joy
1 of 2noun
ˈjȯi 
1
a
: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight
b
: the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety
2
: a state of happiness or felicity : bliss
3
: a source or cause of delight
joyless
ˈjȯi-ləs
adjective joylessly adverb
joylessness noun
joy
2 of 2verb
joyed; joying; joys
intransitive verb
: to experience great pleasure or delight : rejoice
transitive verb
1
archaic : gladden
2
archaic : enjoy
Synonyms
Noun
- beatitude
- blessedness
- bliss
- blissfulness
- felicity
- gladness
- happiness
- warm fuzzies
Verb
- crow
- delight
- exuberate
- exult
- glory
- jubilate
- kvell
- rejoice
- triumph
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun Their sorrow turned to joy. I can hardly express the joy I felt at seeing her again. Seeing her again brought tears of joy to my eyes. The flowers are a joy to behold! What a joy it was to see her again. Verb the whole town is joying in the fact that its oldest church has been restored to its Victorian splendor See More
Recent Examples on the Web
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2022 Jay Leno recalled taking a joy ride with President Joe Biden while filming the upcoming season of his show Jay Leno's Garage — and not in the presidential motocade. Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 The second is the sweet leap of boy-joy that 17-year-old Nate Gibson takes off a rocky ledge and into a pond. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 As Schumer takes in the situation, her face appears to deflate—the triumphal joy replaced by panicked recognition. Ariel Levy, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 But the food itself — clams and various shellfish, sweet corn and new potatoes, all showered with Old Bay Seasoning — plus the way it is served in a big pile at the center of the table, bring carefree, summertime joy indoors, too. Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 Lounging seaside in a bikini and linen coverup sparks obvious joy, but the styling opportunities that come with fall are arguably even more exciting. Sam Peters, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 Aug. 2022 The short trailer-like teaser then flashes chaotic scenes from that odyssey, including chase scenes and wild joy rides. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Aug. 2022 Once complete, the joy jars go to the hospitals for distribution to the kids who are fighting cancer. Fox News, 10 Aug. 2022 Steve Baltin, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2022 Trump would know about taking the life and joy out of everything. Neil J. Young, The Week, 30 July 2021 If people can pay good deeds forward, causing kindness to grow exponentially, can joy spread from one person to the next? Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2021 The last album, performed by the L.A.-based ensemble Wild Up and overseen by Seth Parker Woods, Richard Valitutto, and Christopher Rountree, is the most vital of the lot—an ode of and to joy. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2021 And each has discovered ways to continue bringing light and joy into the world. Julianna Morano, Dallas News, 16 Sep. 2021 This painting inspires joy rather like Hokusai’s beautiful blue skies, an almost tactile sense of the atmosphere as something that sustains and protects us. Washington Post, 16 July 2021 Typically, a Tanglewood summer sends everyone off with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and its famous paean to joy. BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2021 Burkina Faso gained its independence from France in 1960 -- and often joy. Nick Remsen, CNN, 22 June 2021 See More
Noun
For a few hours, everyone was collectively willed into a state of punch-drunk joy weirdness, and the victory lap was earned. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2022 Jay Leno recalled taking a joy ride with President Joe Biden while filming the upcoming season of his show Jay Leno's Garage — and not in the presidential motocade. Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 The second is the sweet leap of boy-joy that 17-year-old Nate Gibson takes off a rocky ledge and into a pond. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 As Schumer takes in the situation, her face appears to deflate—the triumphal joy replaced by panicked recognition. Ariel Levy, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 But the food itself — clams and various shellfish, sweet corn and new potatoes, all showered with Old Bay Seasoning — plus the way it is served in a big pile at the center of the table, bring carefree, summertime joy indoors, too. Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 Lounging seaside in a bikini and linen coverup sparks obvious joy, but the styling opportunities that come with fall are arguably even more exciting. Sam Peters, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 Aug. 2022 The short trailer-like teaser then flashes chaotic scenes from that odyssey, including chase scenes and wild joy rides. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Aug. 2022 Once complete, the joy jars go to the hospitals for distribution to the kids who are fighting cancer. Fox News, 10 Aug. 2022 Verb
They joy and camaraderie between them was infectious. Steve Baltin, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2022 Trump would know about taking the life and joy out of everything. Neil J. Young, The Week, 30 July 2021 If people can pay good deeds forward, causing kindness to grow exponentially, can joy spread from one person to the next? Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2021 The last album, performed by the L.A.-based ensemble Wild Up and overseen by Seth Parker Woods, Richard Valitutto, and Christopher Rountree, is the most vital of the lot—an ode of and to joy. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2021 And each has discovered ways to continue bringing light and joy into the world. Julianna Morano, Dallas News, 16 Sep. 2021 This painting inspires joy rather like Hokusai’s beautiful blue skies, an almost tactile sense of the atmosphere as something that sustains and protects us. Washington Post, 16 July 2021 Typically, a Tanglewood summer sends everyone off with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and its famous paean to joy. BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2021 Burkina Faso gained its independence from France in 1960 -- and often joy. Nick Remsen, CNN, 22 June 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French joie, from Latin gaudia, plural of gaudium, from gaudēre to rejoice; probably akin to Greek gēthein to rejoice
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Phrases Containing joy
Kids Definition
joy
noun
ˈjȯi
1
: a feeling of pleasure or happiness that comes from success, good fortune, or a sense of well-being
2
: something that gives pleasure or happiness It's a joy to have you visit.
joylessness
noun
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits the inescapable joylessness that marred Yuletide celebrations during the war years Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sadness
- sorrowfulness
- depression
- melancholy
- mournfulness
- sorrow
- gloom
- dreariness
- anguish
- glumness
- unhappiness
- dejection
- misery
- gloominess
- grief
- miserableness
- oppression
- heartsickness
- despair
- agony
- forlornness
- downheartedness
- desperation
- boredom
- despondence
- blues
- despondency
- blue devils
- pain
- mourning
- dispiritedness
- dumps
- desolation
- doldrums
- dolefulness
- mopes
- melancholia
- somberness
- disconsolateness
- despond
- distress
- hopelessness
- ennui
- discouragement
- wretchedness
- regret
- tedium
- moroseness
- disheartenment
- woe
- self-pity
- dolor
- morbidness
- moodiness
- woefulness
- drear
- self-despair
- dismalness
- morosity
- rue
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- joy
- joyousness
- exuberance
- happiness
- exultation
- ecstasy
- joyfulness
- elation
- euphoria
- bliss
- intoxication
- exhilaration
- jubilation
- rapture
- glee
- gladness
- mirth
- gayety
- felicity
- joviality
- gaiety
- jollity
- optimism
- cheerfulness
- lightheartedness
- heaven
- humor
- hopefulness
- cheeriness
- gayness
- blissfulness
- gleefulness
- merriment
- contentment
- mirthfulness
- satisfaction
- elatedness
- contentedness
- rapturousness
- gladsomeness
- sunniness
- content
- cheer
- gratification
- delight