cheerful

1 of 2

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

cheerfulness

2 of 2

noun

cheer·​ful·​ness ˈchir-fəl-nəs 

plural -es

: the quality or state of being cheerful

Synonyms of cheerful

Adjective

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

Examples of cheerful in a Sentence

Adjective

She has a cheerful outlook on life.

He seems a little more cheerful today.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

At a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden in 2012, their cheerful father-son bond shines among the crowd. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026

Eva Chen’s table-and-stool set makes the most of this fleeting chapter with sculptural silhouettes, cheerful colors, and four whimsical stools—each with its own shape—that let everyone claim their own seat. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 31 July 2026

Sweet with a little bit of zing, this aura manicure pairs a buttery yellow base with a vibrant hot pink halo for a color combination that’s bright, cheerful, and made for sunny August days. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 30 July 2026

The sunken hallway of Georgetown University’s Medical Dental Building, home to its anatomical donor program, is unnervingly cheerful. — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see cheer entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

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