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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

glee

glee

Glee (noun) means Great delight or high-spirited joy. Example: “The children shrieked with glee as the roller coaster dropped.”

noun
1
Great delight or high-spirited joy.
"The children shrieked with glee as the roller coaster dropped."
"He couldn't hide his glee at winning the competition."

How to Use Glee

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA strong feeling of joyful excitement.

When to use it

Sometimes carries a slightly mischievous or gloating edge, as in delighting at someone else's misfortune.

Common pairings
squeal with glee barely concealed glee shout with glee

Word Forms

gleed past tense, glees plural, glees singular

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The children shrieked with _____ as the roller coaster dropped.

Etymology

From Old English gleo, "mirth, entertainment, or music," a word that fell out of use by 1500 but was revived in the late 1700s.

Origin: Old English · First attested 1500

Class of 1500 glee joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
mirth gloat gloating hilarity gleefulness mirthfulness

Related Words

Rhymes for glee

See all rhymes for glee →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “glee” mean?

The word “glee” means great delight or high-spirited joy. In plain terms, a strong feeling of joyful excitement.

How do you pronounce “glee”?

“Glee” is pronounced glee (/ɡliː/ in IPA).

How do you use “glee” in a sentence?

Here is “glee” used in a sentence: “The children shrieked with glee as the roller coaster dropped.”

What part of speech is “glee”?

“Glee” is a noun.

Where does the word “glee” come from?

The word “glee” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Old English. From Old English gleo, "mirth, entertainment, or music," a word that fell out of use by 1500 but was revived in the late 1700s.

Is “glee” a common word?

“Glee” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial