joyful

adjective

joy·​ful ˈjȯi-fəl How to pronounce joyful (audio)
: experiencing, causing, or showing joy : happy
a joyful crowd
joyful faces
a joyful occasion
joyfully adverb
joyfulness noun

Examples of joyful in a Sentence

We were joyful at the news. the news of the child's safe return made us all joyful
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.
To Chinara, the gesture resonates, sometimes in joyful tears, as Kevin always having his brother on the journey with him. Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2025 Beginning Wednesday night and continuing into Thursday, joyful relatives of hostages and their supporters spilled into Tel Aviv’s central square, which has become the main gathering point in the effort to free the captives. Dave Smith, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025 With the Osburn girls being nearly inseparable, the community came to know them as a joyful force. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2025 From toner pads that visibly erase pores to cushion compacts that click shut like a dream, every step in a Korean beauty routine is a small, joyful ritual. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for joyful

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of joyful was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Joyful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joyful. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

joyful

adjective
joy·​ful ˈjȯi-fəl How to pronounce joyful (audio)
: feeling, causing, or showing joy
a joyful family reunion
joyfully adverb
joyfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on joyful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!