glad

1 of 3

adjective

ˈglad 

gladder; gladdest

1

a

: experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight : made happy

b

: very willing

glad to do it

c

: made pleased, satisfied, or grateful

—often used with of

was glad of their help

2

a

: marked by, expressive of, or caused by happiness and joy

a glad shout

b

: causing happiness and joy : pleasant

glad tidings

3

: full of brightness and cheerfulness

a glad spring morning

4

archaic : having a cheerful or happy disposition by nature

gladly adverb

gladness noun

glad

2 of 3

verb

gladded; gladding

archaic

: gladden

glad

3 of 3

noun

: gladiolus sense 1

Synonyms

Adjective

• delighted
• thankful
• pleased
• happy
• satisfied

Verb

• please
• delight
• satisfy
• warm

Examples of glad in a Sentence

Adjective

We're glad you could come.

I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have.

The mail brought glad news from our friends in England.

We've been through some sad times and some glad times.

Verb

it hath gladded my heart to see thy face again

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Her husband had always had a soft spot for yams and was glad for the sudden bounty. —Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 30 June 2025

Just be glad the season didn't feature Cybertrucks. —EW.com, 30 June 2025

Verb

More:Stellantis dealers glad Tavares is out, but now concern grows for the future Contact Jamie L. LaReau: [e-mail]. —Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 2 Dec. 2024

Noun

His latest project is the Temple Grove, a wildly beautiful corner of the garden in a glads of high trees. —Town & Country, 28 Apr. 2023

Neither glads nor dahlias are fussy about starting soil. —Jeff Lowenfels | Alaska Gardening and Growing, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English, shining, glad, from Old English glæd; akin to Old High German glat shining, smooth, Latin glaber smooth, bald

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing glad

• glad hand
• glad rags

Rhymes for glad

• ad
• add
• bad
• brad
• cad
• clad
• dad
• fad
• gad
• grad
• had
• lad

Kids Definition

glad

adjective

ˈglad

gladder; gladdest

1

a

: experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight : made happy

glad things turned out well

b

: made pleased, satisfied, or grateful

was glad of their help

c

: very willing

glad to do it

2

a

: marked by, expressive of, or caused by happiness

a glad shout

b

: causing happiness and joy : pleasant

glad tidings

3

: full of brightness and cheerfulness

a glad spring morning

gladly adverb

gladness noun