glee

noun

ˈglē 

1

: exultant high-spirited joy : merriment

dancing with glee

2

: a part-song for usually male voices

Synonyms

• cheer
• cheerfulness
• cheeriness
• festivity
• gaiety
• gayety
• gayness
• gleefulness
• hilarity
• jocundity
• joviality
• merriment
• merriness
• mirth
• mirthfulness

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

Hundreds of revelers roar at once, thrusting homemade torches into the freezing air and banging pans together with cacophonous glee. —Amiel Stanek, Bon Appétit, 26 Nov. 2024

The glee among conservative voters in the red wave Trump secured in this election was as palpable as the despair among liberal voters, who described themselves as shocked and in a state of disbelief about Harris' loss. —Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024

There’s a pure glee generated by the title’s fast and ferocious combat working in perfect harmony with its hellish visuals and sound design. —Brian Mazique, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024

So why not state that emphatically and with some degree of glee? —Ron Insana, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2024

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

Phrases Containing glee

• glee club

Kids Definition

glee

noun

ˈglē 

1

: high-spirited joy

2

: an unaccompanied song for three or more voices

gleeful

-fəl

adjective

gleefully

-fə-lē

adverb

gleefulness noun