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
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.
Jackman’s film is a joyous testament to independence, creativity, and the enduring necessity of stories. Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025 Venice welcomed back festival frequent flyers George Clooney and Noah Baumbach on Thursday night, giving Baumbach’s Jay Kelly a joyous, 10-minute-long standing ovation at its in-competition world premiere. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025 The songs encapsulate the raucous, joyous sound of New Orleans streets, where festive and somber moments are celebrated with music and dance. Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025 Every string of nonsense from Liam’s mouth was met with applause and joyous laughter. Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Joyous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joyous. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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