1
a
: a feeling of great happiness or pleasure : delight
Seeing you happy gives me such joy.
They were shouting/jumping for joy. [=they shouted/jumped because they were very happy]
b
: the expression or exhibition of such emotion
a gathering full of joy and laughter
2
: a state of great happiness : bliss
wishes of love, joy, and peace for all
3
: a source or cause of delight
The sun is the joy and the sorrow of the people. It destroys their crops while it warms them with the heat they could not live without.—
Maia Wojciechowska
Maia WojciechowskaDiscovering something new is one of the great joys of eating out.—Tim Fish
Tim FishThe old boat was his pride and joy.
The baby is a little bundle of joy.
joyed; joying; joys
Examples of joy in a Sentence
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Others drove through the city’s main arteries dangling out the window waving their flags while drivers honked their horns with joy.
—Tala Alrajjal, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025
Even amid these challenges, Wightman found ways to hold onto joy — and for her, fashion became a lifeline.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
Each year, the town of 4,400 people roars to life with its seasonal bash, ushering in the winter to come with joy, laughter, and plenty of mulled wine.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for joy
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Noun
Orozco also wants to focus on gratitude while spreading love and joy.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
Others drove through the city’s main arteries dangling out the window waving their flags while drivers honked their horns with joy.
—Tala Alrajjal, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025
Even amid these challenges, Wightman found ways to hold onto joy — and for her, fashion became a lifeline.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
Each year, the town of 4,400 people roars to life with its seasonal bash, ushering in the winter to come with joy, laughter, and plenty of mulled wine.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for joy
Cite this Entry
“Joy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joy. Accessed 9 Dec. 2025.
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