joy

1 of 2

noun

ˈjȯi 

1

a

: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight

b

: the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety

2

: a state of happiness or felicity : bliss

3

: a source or cause of delight

joyless

ˈjȯi-ləs 

adjective

joylessly adverb

joylessness noun

joy

2 of 2

verb

joyed; joying; joys

intransitive verb

: to experience great pleasure or delight : rejoice

transitive verb

1

archaic : gladden

2

archaic : enjoy

Synonyms

Noun

• happiness
• bliss
• blissfulness

Verb

• delight
• glory
• triumph

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

Noun

Regardless, drivers have been honking their vehicles’ horns with joy now that Gurnee is the first in the county to end its photo-enforcement program. —Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025

The joy emanating from the largely millennial devotees was palpable, from the white clothing blanketing the stands to the breathless commentary throughout the concert. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 13 July 2025

But, by the time her pregnancy reached five weeks and four days, the joy faded, only to be replaced with heartbreak. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025

The prospect of revisiting Tolstoy’s classic in a P.E.I. class filled him with joy. —Brooke Allen, New Yorker, 12 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French joie, from Latin gaudia, plural of gaudium, from gaudēre to rejoice; probably akin to Greek gēthein to rejoice

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing joy

• jump for joy
• pride and joy
• shout for joy

Rhymes for joy

• boy
• choy
• coy
• croy
• foy
• hoi
• hoy
• loy
• oy
• ploy
• soy
• toy

Kids Definition

joy

1 of 2 noun

ˈjȯi 

1

: a feeling of great pleasure or happiness that comes from success, good fortune, or a sense of well-being : gladness

2

: something that gives joy

a joy to behold

joyless

-ləs 

adjective

joylessness noun

joy

2 of 2 verb

: to experience joy : rejoice