glee

noun

Synonyms of gleenext
1
: exultant high-spirited joy : merriment
dancing with glee
2
: a part-song for usually male voices

Examples of glee in a Sentence

They were dancing with glee. He could hardly contain his glee over his victory.
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.
What wasn't hidden was their apparent glee. Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026 But that he – along with fellow Pittsburgher Wiz Khalifa and country star Kane Brown – has been tapped to perform during the 2026 NFL Draft in his hometown has the gregarious rocker vibrating with glee. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026 The shout of glee at the news that Christopher Kane is the new creative director at Mulberry was practically audible across London this morning. Sarah Mower, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2026 Sounds like a Sean Payton guy, particularly considering his glee in talking pass-protection. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for glee

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English glēo entertainment, music; akin to Old Norse glȳ joy, and perhaps to Greek chleuē joke

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of glee was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glee. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

glee

noun
1
: high-spirited joy
2
: an unaccompanied song for three or more voices
gleeful
-fəl
adjective
gleefully
-fə-lē
adverb
gleefulness noun

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