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merry

play
adjective mer·ry \ˈmer-ē, ˈme-rē\

Definition of merry

merrier

;

merriest

  1. 1 archaic :  giving pleasure :  delightful

  2. 2 :  full of gaiety or high spirits :  mirthful eat, drink, and be merry

  3. 3 :  marked by festivity or gaiety a merry holiday time

  4. 4 :  quick, brisk a merry pace

merrily

play \ˈmer-ə-lē, ˈme-rə-\ adverb

merriness

play \ˈmer-ē-nəs, ˈme-rē-\ noun

See merry defined for English-language learners

See merry defined for kids

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Examples of merry in a Sentence

  1. Let's eat, drink, and be merry!

  2. They sang a merry little song.

Recent Examples of merry from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'merry'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of merry

Middle English mery, from Old English myrge, merge; akin to Old High German murg short — more at brief

merry Synonyms

Synonyms
blithesome, festive, gay, gleeful, jocose, jocular, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, mirthful, sunny
Related Words
amused, beaming, chuckling, giggling, smiling; bright, buoyant, carefree, cheerful, cheery, chipper, lighthearted, lightsome, upbeat; animated, bouncing, frisky, jaunty, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious, zippy; blessed (also blest), blissful, delighted, ecstatic, elated, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, exuberant, exultant, gladsome, happy, high, joyful, joyous, jubilant, overjoyed, radiant, rapturous, ravished, thrilled, tickled; amusing, facetious, flippant, frolicsome, funny, hilarious, jesting, joking, joshing, playful, sportive, witty; cavalier, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, unconcerned; hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine; antic, comic, comical, farcical, humorous, riotous, sidesplitting, uproarious
Near Antonyms
abject, aggrieved, anguished, blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, disheartened, dispirited, downcast, downhearted, forlorn, glum, heartbroken, heartsick, heavyhearted, low-spirited, melancholy, sad, saddened, sorrowful, unhappy; crying, groaning, moaning, sobbing, wailing, weeping; discontented, disgruntled, moody; doleful, dolorous, joyless, lachrymose, lugubrious, mournful, plaintive, sorry, woeful; black, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, depressing, desolate, dismal, dreary, gloomy, glum, gray (also grey), morose, saturnine, somber (or sombre), sullen; miserable, woebegone, wretched; dull, lethargic, listless, sluggish, torpid

Synonym Discussion of merry

merry, blithe, jocund, jovial, jolly mean showing high spirits or lightheartedness. merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity. a merry group of revelers blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety. arrived late in his usual blithe way jocund stresses elation and exhilaration of spirits. singing, dancing, and jocund feasting jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship. dinner put them in a jovial mood jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting. our jolly host enlivened the party

Phrases Related to MERRY

Related Phrases

MERRY Defined for English Language Learners

merry

play
adjective

Definition of merry for English Language Learners

  • : very happy and cheerful : feeling or showing joy and happiness

  • : causing joy and happiness

MERRY Defined for Kids

merry

play
adjective mer·ry \ˈmer-ē\

Definition of merry for Students

merrier

;

merriest

  1. 1 :  full of joy and good cheer a merry man

  2. 2 :  full of festive celebration and enjoyment a merry Christmas

merrily

\ˈmer-ə-lē\ adverb

Learn More about merry

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for merry Spanish Central: Translation of merry Nglish: Translation of merry for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of merry for Arabic speakers

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Examples: merry in a Sentence
Tip: Synonym Guide