merriment

noun

mer·​ri·​ment ˈmer-i-mənt How to pronounce merriment (audio)
ˈme-ri-
1
: lighthearted gaiety or fun-making : hilarity
2
: a lively celebration or party : festivity

Examples of merriment in a Sentence

a time of great joy and merriment Their house was always filled with merriment.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Music, merriment, light and color fill the streets. Matt Ralphs, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2024 Sometimes, though, Harris’s various shades of mirth simply add ironic merriment to proceedings that otherwise slog along. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2024 Power outages, supply shortages, and monster attacks cut the merriment short, but Anx and Cass are an adequate team for a while. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2024 Without fans, family, friends, and most of the merriment (without those heartwarming post-competition mom moments), Tokyo really lacked warm fuzzies. Erin Strout, SELF, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for merriment 

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of merriment was in 1574

Dictionary Entries Near merriment

Cite this Entry

“Merriment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merriment. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

merriment

noun
mer·​ri·​ment ˈmer-i-mənt How to pronounce merriment (audio)
: mirth, fun

More from Merriam-Webster on merriment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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