jolly (ˈdʒɒlɪ
)
Definitions
adjective
- full of good humour; jovial
- having or provoking gaiety and merrymaking; festive
- greatly enjoyable; pleasing
adverb
- British (intensifier) ⇒
you're jolly nice
verb
(tr) informal- often foll by up or along to try to make or keep (someone) cheerful
- to make goodnatured fun of
noun
- informal mainly British a festivity or celebration
- informal mainly British a trip, esp one made for pleasure by a public official or committee at public expense
- British slang a Royal Marine
Alternative Forms
ˈjolliness nounWord Origin
C14: from Old French jolif, probably from Old Norse jōlyuleSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
happy,
bright,
funny,
lively,
hopeful,
sunny,
cheerful,
merry,
vibrant,
hilarious,
festive,
upbeat,
bubbly,
gay,
airy,
playful,
exuberant,
jubilant,
cheery,
good-humoured,
joyous,
joyful,
carefree,
breezy,
genial,
ebullient,
chirpy,
sprightly,
jovial,
convivial,
effervescent,
frolicsome,
ludic,
mirthful,
sportive,
light-hearted,
jocund,
gladsome,
blithesome,
Translations
- British English:
jolly
A jolly person is happy and cheerful.She was a jolly, kindhearted woman.ˈdʒɒlɪ ADJECTIVE She was a jolly, kindhearted woman.
- Spanish:
jovial
adj
- French:
gai
adj
- German:
fröhlich
adj
- Chinese: 欢乐的 adj
- Arabic: فَرِحٌ adj
- Portuguese: alegre adj
- Russian: веселый adj веселая
- Croatian: veseo adj vesela
- Czech: veselý adj
- Danish: glad adj
- Dutch: plezierig adj
- Finnish: iloinen adj
- Greek: πρόσχαρος adj πρόσχαρη
- Italian: allegro adj allegra
- Japanese: 陽気な no_posp
- Korean: 명랑한 adj
- Norwegian: munter adj
- Polish: wesoły adj wesoła
- Brazilian Portuguese: alegre adj
- European Spanish:
jovial
adj
- Swedish: glad adj glatt
- Thai: รื่นเริง adj
- Turkish: keyifli adj
- Vietnamese: vui vẻ adj
Usage examples
Besides, they said, he was a jolly , easy-going man, nice to work for, friendly, generous.
, Doubtful Motives (1987)According to reports, Kev and his pals jetted off to Las Vegas and had a jolly old time at strip club Spearmint Rhino.
Megastar (2005)He begins in Reykjavik, where he joins the jolly crew of a replica Viking ship for a short voyage.
Globe and Mail (2003)IRELAND 20 ENGLAND 14. Happy hooker Wood leads Gat's jolly green giants to famous victory
Sun, News of the World (2001)It was strange to see Marian almost jolly , her dark secret revealed to be of no great importance.
, We'll Meet Again (1993)