merriment

noun

mer·​ri·​ment ˈmer-i-mənt How to pronounce merriment (audio)
ˈme-ri-
1
: lighthearted gaiety or fun-making : hilarity
2
: a lively celebration or party : festivity

Examples of merriment in a Sentence

a time of great joy and merriment Their house was always filled with merriment.
Recent Examples on the Web In fact, if you're surrounded by gaiety and merriment but not having the best of times yourself, all that festivity can make your own solitude even more miserable. Gwen Ihnat, EW.com, 6 Nov. 2023 Thanksgiving is a time when millions of American families come together each year for food and merriment. Sydney Borchers, Fox News, 23 Nov. 2023 The whole family will find merriment in hopping aboard the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, a four-hour, 26-mile, round-trip journey that begins and ends at the historic depot in Blue Ridge. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2023 Get ready to unwrap the gift of laughter and share the merriment with those who appreciate the lighter side of life. Jessica Copeland, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2023 Moments of merriment As the holidays approach, the organization is in the process of preparing for a Christmas party. Sophie Neiman, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2023 Christmas layoffs The first 11 months of 2023 were rife with layoffs, and despite the holly-jolly merriments, the holiday season is no different. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2023 Santa Claus Christmas Celebration takes place the first three weekends in December, adding merriment with drive-thru light displays, shopping experiences, chestnut roasting, meet and greets with Santa, and the Santa Claus Christmas Parade. Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 19 Nov. 2023 Looking for an antidote to unbridled seasonal merriment? John Anderson, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'merriment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of merriment was in 1574

Dictionary Entries Near merriment

Cite this Entry

“Merriment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merriment. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

merriment

noun
mer·​ri·​ment ˈmer-i-mənt How to pronounce merriment (audio)
: mirth, fun

More from Merriam-Webster on merriment

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