joyous

adjective

joy·​ous ˈjȯi-əs How to pronounce joyous (audio)
Synonyms of joyousnext
: 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
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.
In spite of the grandness of the scale and the weight of the house — and Matthieu’s job, his first haute couture collection felt joyous, intimate, meaningful and extremely personal. Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026 Raimi, in his first foray into horror since 2009’s Drag Me to Hell, attacks the material with a joyous ferocity that proves infectious. Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026 The event usually kicks off with a festival reception in the lobby, featuring lion dancers and lucky red envelopes, transforming the concert hall into a joyous cultural hub. Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026 On Instagram, Bryan shared photos of the wedding ceremony and reception, sharing tender snapshots of himself with Leonard, as well as joyous group photos of the friends and family members in attendance. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for joyous

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

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Cite this Entry

“Joyous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joyous. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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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