joyous

adjective

joy·​ous ˈjȯi-əs How to pronounce joyous (audio)
: joyful
a joyous occasion
a joyous celebration
joyously adverb
joyousness noun

Examples of joyous in a Sentence

a mood of joyous anticipation a joyous crowd eagerly awaiting the countdown to midnight on New Year's Eve
Recent Examples on the Web So yes, this look back at one extraordinary, joyous, painful year in the life is a music documentary. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023 The scene was joyous late Saturday night as San Diego State players celebrated beating rival Fresno State. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023 While uncertainty around the details of the exchange remained, there was some optimism, too, amid scenes of joyous families reuniting on both sides. CBS News, 25 Nov. 2023 As the spirited and no-nonsense wife to Harpo (Hawkins), Brooks’ Sofia is positioned as the hopeful and joyous anchor in a narrative that, at times, carries a thematic weight, craving moments of levity. Clayton Davis, Variety, 18 Nov. 2023 Here are a few of the joyous happenings coming up with the biggest trees and the brightest lights: The Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration fills the beloved street with lights, live entertainment and activities. Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023 All the Celebrity Weddings of 2023 The couple and their guests then celebrated the joyous occasion with sunset cocktails and a quiet dinner at Eden Rock. Emily Strohm, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2023 Third, and most important, Maria Montessori showed us something joyous: This can be better. Andrew McAfee, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2023 Now their compound at the zoo in Northwest Washington is empty, and the joyous decades of pandamania are over, at least for the time being. William Wan, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'joyous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of joyous was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near joyous

Cite this Entry

“Joyous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joyous. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

joyous

adjective
joy·​ous ˈjȯi-əs How to pronounce joyous (audio)
: feeling, causing, or showing joy : joyful
joyously adverb
joyousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on joyous

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