Gleeful: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'gleeful' when describing someone who is showing happiness with a sense of delight and often a bit of mischief or triumph.

• The children were gleeful when they found out they had a surprise party
• He had a gleeful grin after winning the chess match

Use 'joyful' to describe a deep and often more profound sense of happiness, often accompanied by spiritual or emotional uplift.

• The joyful reunion brought tears to their eyes
• He felt joyful on his wedding day

Use 'happy' for a general state of well-being and contentment. This is a broad term that can apply to many different situations.

• She felt happy to spend time with her family
• The news made him very happy

Use 'cheerful' when describing someone who is consistently happy and positive, often with a sunny disposition.

• She has a cheerful personality that brightens everyone's day
• The waiter greeted us with a cheerful smile

Use 'excited' when someone is feeling enthusiastic and eager about something that is going to happen or something they are doing right now.

• They were excited for their upcoming vacation
• He was so excited to start his new job

Used when someone is feeling very happy, often because of a specific event or achievement, and may also imply a playful or mischievous tone.

• The children were gleeful as they opened their gifts on Christmas morning.
• He felt gleeful after finally solving the challenging puzzle.

Expresses a sense of deep happiness and pleasure, often from something meaningful or fulfilling. It can be used in both personal and celebratory contexts.

• The birth of their first child was a joyful occasion.
• She felt joyful after hearing the good news.

A broad term that indicates a state of well-being and contentment. Can be used in various contexts, both general and specific.

• I am happy to announce that we have met our goals for the year.
• They were happy to spend the weekend together.

Describes a person who is generally in a good mood, positive, and friendly. Often associated with an upbeat and optimistic attitude.

• She greeted me with a cheerful smile every morning.
• The atmosphere at the party was very cheerful.

Describes the physical act of smiling, which often accompanies feelings of happiness or friendliness. It focuses more on the facial expression rather than the emotional state.

• He was smiling the whole time during the concert.
• She walked into the room, smiling warmly at everyone.