cheerful

adjective

cheer·​ful ˈchir-fəl 

1

a

: full of good spirits : merry

a cheerful host

b

: ungrudging

cheerful obedience

2

: conducive to cheer : likely to dispel gloom or worry

sunny cheerful room

cheerfully

ˈchir-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

cheerfulness

ˈchir-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of cheerful

• bright
• optimistic
• cheery
• sunny
• upbeat
• smiling
• buoyant

Examples of cheerful in a Sentence

She has a cheerful outlook on life.

He seems a little more cheerful today.

Recent Examples on the Web

My second-floor Ocean View Celebration Suite was bright and airy with cheerful pops of color. — Ronee Uyeshiro, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026

Their cheerful golden blooms attract native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators throughout the summer, and their seed heads become an important food source for goldfinches and other songbirds in the fall and winter. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 21 July 2026

For many travelers, the cheerful tropical shirt was Florida’s unofficial welcome mat, and captured the spirit of timeless Old Florida. — Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 21 July 2026

On April 24, a 54-year-old male had a cardiac emergency on the attraction, a gentle boat ride that floats by scenes featuring cheerful puppets. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

see cheer entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for cheerful

• fearful
• tearful

Kids Definition

cheerful

adjective

cheer·​ful ˈchi(ə)r-fəl 

1

a

: full of good spirits

a cheerful outlook

b

: willing sense 3

cheerful obedience

2

: pleasantly bright

a sunny cheerful room

cheerfully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

cheerfulness

-fəl-nəs 

noun