Definition of 'happy'

Word Frequency

happy

(hæpi )

Word forms: comparative happier , superlative happiest

1. adjective

Someone who is happy has feelings of pleasure, usually because something nice has happened or because they feel satisfied with their life.

Marina was a confident, happy child.

I'm just happy to be back running.

Her face relaxed into a happy smile.

Synonyms: pleased, delighted, content, contented More Synonyms of happy

happily adverb [usually ADVERB with verb]

He had chatted happily with guests in the sunshine.

Synonyms: aptly, appropriately, successfully, gracefully More Synonyms of happy

Synonyms: joyfully, cheerfully, gleefully, blithely More Synonyms of happy

happiness uncountable noun

I think mostly she was looking for happiness.

Synonyms: pleasure, delight, joy, cheer More Synonyms of happy

2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]

A happy time, place, or relationship is full of happy feelings and pleasant experiences, or has an atmosphere in which people feel happy.

Except for her illnesses, she had had a particularly happy childhood.

It had always been a happy place.

We have a very happy marriage.

Synonyms: contented, blessed, blest, joyful More Synonyms of happy

3. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE, ADJECTIVE that, ADJECTIVE to-infinitive]

If you are happy about a situation or arrangement, you are satisfied with it, for example because you think that something is being done in the right way.

If you are not happy about a repair, go back and complain. [+ about/with]

He's happy that I deal with it myself.

4. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE, usually ADJECTIVE to-infinitive]

If you say you are happy to do something, you mean that you are very willing to do it.

I'll be happy to answer any questions if there are any.

That's a risk I'm happy to take.

Synonyms: willing, ready, glad, contented More Synonyms of happy

happily adverb [ADVERB with verb]

If I've caused any offence over something I have written, I will happily apologise.

Synonyms: aptly, appropriately, successfully, gracefully More Synonyms of happy

Synonyms: joyfully, cheerfully, gleefully, blithely More Synonyms of happy

Synonyms: willingly, freely, gladly, enthusiastically More Synonyms of happy

5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

Happy is used in greetings and other conventional expressions to say that you hope someone will enjoy a special occasion.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Easter!

6. many happy returns

7. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

A happy coincidence is one that results in something pleasant or helpful happening.

By happy coincidence, Robert met Richard and Julia and discovered they were experiencing similar problems.

More Synonyms of happy

Video: pronunciation of
happy

happy in British English

(ˈhæpɪ )

adjectiveWord forms: -pier or -piest

feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased

willing

I'd be happy to show you around

causing joy or gladness

fortunate; lucky

the happy position of not having to work

aptly expressed; appropriate

a happy turn of phrase

6. (postpositive) informal

slightly intoxicated

exclamation

(in combination)

happy birthday

happy Christmas

-happy in British English

combining form in adjective

denoting excessive enthusiasm for or devotion to

gun-happy

Word Frequency

happy in American English

(ˈhæpi )

adjectiveWord forms: ˈhappier or ˈhappiest

favored by circumstances; lucky; fortunate

having, showing, or causing a feeling of great pleasure, contentment, joy, etc.; joyous; glad; pleased

exactly appropriate to the occasion; suitable and clever; apt; felicitous

a happy suggestion

intoxicated, or irresponsibly quick to act, as if intoxicated

sometimes used in hyphenated compounds see also slap-happy, trigger-happy

SYNONYMY NOTE: happy generally suggests a feeling of great pleasure, contentment, etc. [a happy marriage]; glad1 implies more strongly an exultant feeling of joy [your letter made her so glad], but both glad1, happy are commonly used in merely polite formulas expressing gratification [I'm glad, or happy, to have met you]; cheerful implies a steady display of bright spirits, optimism, etc. [he's always cheerful in the morning]; joyful, joyous both imply great elation and rejoicing, the former generally because of a particular event, and the latter as a matter of usual temperament [the joyful throngs, a joyous family]

OPPOSITE: sad

Derived forms

happily (ˈhappily)

adverb

happiness (ˈhappiness)

noun

Word origin

ME happi < hap: see hap1

Examples of 'happy' in a sentence
happy

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This could be a wonderful new beginning for a happier life.Research supports the theory that crying makes us feel happier and healthier.Surveys of wellbeing also suggest that women typically are happier in their working lives than men.There are less happy endings for others who pass through the camp.He says he is happier than he was when we met previously.Neither of them are in a happy place right now.It must be a happy coincidence.But life hasn't always been this happy and carefree.There isn't a trade-off between being good at something and being happy.Tomorrow night we should raise a glass and wish ourselves a happy and prosperous New Year.

Quotations

Happy the man, and happy he alone
He who can call today his own;
He who, secure within, can say,
Tomorrow, do thy worst, for I have lived todayJohn DrydenImitation of Horace

The happy man is not he who seems thus to others, but who seems thus to himselfPublilius SyrusMoral Sayings

Call no man happy till he dies, he is at best but fortunateSolon

Happy men are grave. They carry their happiness cautiously, as they would a glass filled to the brim which the slightest movement could cause to spill over, or breakJules Barbey D'AurevillyLes Diaboliques

No one can be perfectly free till all are free; no one can be perfectly moral till all are moral; no one can be perfectly happy till all are happyHerbert SpencerSocial Statics

We are never happy: we can only remember that we were so onceAlexander Smith