Joyful Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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joyful

[ˈdʒɔɪfəl ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

feeling

Feeling, expressing, or causing great pleasure and happiness.

Synonyms

cheerful, delighted, ecstatic, elated, happy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
joyful	Used to describe a deep and profound sense of happiness, often associated with significant and meaningful events. She felt joyful at the birth of her first child. The reunion with old friends made him feel truly joyful.
happy	Used broadly to describe a state of being pleased, content, or in a good mood. She is happy with her new job. I feel happy whenever I spend time with my family.
cheerful	Used to describe a generally positive and upbeat attitude or mood, often in everyday interactions. He always stays cheerful even in difficult situations. Her cheerful demeanor brightened everyone's day.
delighted	Used to express a high level of pleased satisfaction, often in response to a specific event or achievement. They were delighted with the surprise birthday party. I am delighted to hear about your promotion.
elated	Used to convey a state of great happiness and exhilaration, often due to a positive outcome or achievement. He felt elated after acing the exam. She was elated when she found out she got the job.
ecstatic	Used to describe an overwhelming sense of intense happiness and excitement, typically in extraordinary situations. She was ecstatic when she won the lottery. The fans were ecstatic after their team won the championship.

Examples of usage

She had a joyful smile on her face.
The children were joyful at the news of a snow day.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

occasion

Full of joy; causing happiness.

Synonyms

celebratory, festive, joyous, jubilant, merry.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
joyful	Expresses a deep sense of happiness or delight, often with emotional warmth. She felt joyful when she reunited with her family after a long trip. The children's laughter made the entire atmosphere joyful.
festive	Relates to a festive occasion or atmosphere, often linked with holidays and special events. The whole town is decorated with lights for the festive season. The festive spirit is palpable during Christmas time.
joyous	Similar to joyful, but often used to describe occasions that bring joy to a group of people. The wedding was a joyous occasion for both families. They shared a joyous celebration after the concert.
merry	Often used to describe a happy and lively atmosphere or mood, commonly associated with social gatherings. Everyone was in a merry mood at the annual Christmas party. They sang merry songs around the campfire.
jubilant	Expresses an intense level of joy, often linked with triumph or victory. The crowd was jubilant after their team won the final match. She was in a jubilant mood after passing her exams with flying colors.
celebratory	Used in the context of marking or celebrating an event or occasion, often involving festivity. The team had a celebratory dinner after winning the championship. There was a celebratory mood in the air as the country marked its independence day.

Examples of usage

It was a joyful celebration.
The atmosphere was joyful with laughter and music.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'joyful'

The word 'joyful' originated in the Middle English period (1150-1470) from the Old French word 'joiose', meaning full of joy. It has been used to describe feelings of happiness and pleasure throughout history, often associated with celebrations and festive occasions.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,977, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.

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11974 categorical
11975 grayish
11976 kettle
11977 joyful
11978 custodian
11979 activist
11980 passim
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