joyous

adjective

joy·​ous ˈjȯi-əs How to pronounce joyous (audio)
Synonyms of joyous
: joyful
a joyous occasion
a joyous celebration
joyously adverb
joyousness noun

Synonyms of joyous

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Examples of joyous in a Sentence

a mood of joyous anticipation a joyous crowd eagerly awaiting the countdown to midnight on New Year's Eve
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But those concerns didn’t stop groups of Catholics from joining a recent joyous pilgrimage on Mount Tabor, where the Gospels say Jesus appeared transfigured alongside the Jewish prophets Moses and Elijah. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 Now the holidays will be extra joyous with our favorite rolls back on the table. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2026 Nevertheless, City enjoyed plenty of joyous moments during their 88-year stay. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 The joyous moment of WrestleMania appeared to be a thing of the past. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for joyous

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of joyous was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

joyless
joyous
joyously
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Joyous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joyous. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

joyous

adjective
joy·​ous ˈjȯi-əs How to pronounce joyous (audio)
: feeling, causing, or showing joy : joyful
joyously adverb
joyousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on joyous

Nglish: Translation of joyous for Spanish Speakers

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