joyful

adjective

joy·​ful ˈjȯi-fəl 

: experiencing, causing, or showing joy : happy

a joyful crowd

joyful faces

a joyful occasion

joyfully

ˈjȯi-fə-lē 

adverb

joyfulness noun

Synonyms of joyful

• thankful
• delighted
• happy
• pleased
• glad
• satisfied
• joyous

Examples of joyful in a Sentence

We were joyful at the news.

the news of the child's safe return made us all joyful

Recent Examples on the Web

The leaders who will build genuinely joyful, high-performing workplaces are the ones willing to look at the system first. — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee plays the joyful, wise — but haunted by his dark past as a fire nation general —Iroh. — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026

Would society trend toward debilitating mass unemployment or the joyful end of work? — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 29 June 2026

New York’s electorate is more progressive, and Mamdani, who has brought a joyful, dynamic energy to the city’s governance, has a unique clout. — Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

joyful

adjective

joy·​ful ˈjȯi-fəl 

: feeling, causing, or showing joy

a joyful family reunion

joyfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

joyfulness noun