gladden

verb

glad·​den ˈgla-dᵊn 

gladdened; gladdening ˈgla-dᵊn-iŋ 

intransitive verb

archaic : to be glad

transitive verb

: to make glad

Synonyms of gladden

• delight
• please
• satisfy
• warm
• feast
• amuse

Examples of gladden in a Sentence

it would gladden me to hear you sing again

Recent Examples on the Web

But there’s something reliably gladdening about sitting down with a warm bowl that promises to nourish. — Karen Yuan, Bon Appétit, 1 Feb. 2025

But there’s something genuinely gladdening to take away from this inquiry into the modern media. — Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 18 Feb. 2023

The word from Washington is sure to gladden the Newsom campaign. — Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2021

Even a dead beaver, with its buck teeth sticking out of its decomposing skull, seemed to gladden Balken. — Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021

That turnaround is sure to gladden the hearts of Republicans, who have no hope of controlling the White House without Texas. — Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing gladden

• gladden someone's heart
• gladden the heart

Rhymes for gladden

• hadden
• madden
• sadden
• aladdin
• coumadin

Kids Definition

gladden

verb

glad·​den ˈglad-ən 

gladdened; gladdening -(ə-)niŋ 

: to make glad