happiness
noun
hap·pi·ness
ˈha-pē-nəs 
1
a
: a state of well-being and contentment : joy
b
: a pleasurable or satisfying experience
I wish you every happiness in life.
I had the happiness of seeing you—
W. S. Gilbert
W. S. Gilbert3
obsolete
: good fortune : prosperity
all happiness bechance to thee—William Shakespeare
William ShakespeareExamples of happiness in a Sentence
They made a toast to long life and happiness.
her happiness was complete when she got her very own house
Recent Examples on the Web
Research shows that the act of mindfully enjoying an experience amplifies our happiness.
—Sarah Groen, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2025
On July 4, 1776, 56 signatories to the Declaration of Independence signed their death warrants to secure unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness through, among other things, government by the consent of the governed.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 31 July 2025
This full moon — ruled by Uranus in Gemini in your happiness and fate sector — could bring emotional breakthroughs or shifts in your romantic or creative situations.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 July 2025
The world tells of success as such a wonderful story, the pinnacle of happiness.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for happiness
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.
Sarah Groen, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2025
On July 4, 1776, 56 signatories to the Declaration of Independence signed their death warrants to secure unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness through, among other things, government by the consent of the governed.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 31 July 2025
This full moon — ruled by Uranus in Gemini in your happiness and fate sector — could bring emotional breakthroughs or shifts in your romantic or creative situations.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 July 2025
The world tells of success as such a wonderful story, the pinnacle of happiness.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for happiness
Cite this Entry
“Happiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happiness. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
happiness
noun
hap·pi·ness
ˈhap-i-nəs
: a state of well-being and contentment : joy
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share