jolly

15 synonyms and 5 antonyms for jolly, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Cheerful, good-humoured, and full of high spirits.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

gay fairly pretty somewhat

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

cheerful merry festive reasonably moderately

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

jovial convivial mirthful jocund middling passably

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Cheerful, good-humoured, and full of high spirits.

“The jolly old man handed out sweets to the children.”

cheerful jovial merry festive convivial mirthful gay jocund

Opposites

morose mournful gloomy joyless sad

2. adv

British informal intensifier meaning "very."

“That's a jolly good idea.”

fairly pretty somewhat middling reasonably passably moderately

How to use jolly

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

jolly good jolly nice a jolly mood

The adverb use ("jolly good," "jolly well") is distinctly British and fairly old-fashioned.

Etymology

From Old French joli, "merry, cheerful" — its exact deeper origin is disputed, possibly linked to Old Norse jól ("Yule feast").

Full origin of jolly →

Frequently asked questions

What does “jolly” mean?

The word “jolly” means cheerful, good-humoured, and full of high spirits. In plain terms, cheerful and merry, or (as an adverb in British English) simply "very.".

How do you pronounce “jolly”?

“Jolly” is pronounced JO-lee (/ˈd͡ʒɑli/ in IPA).

How do you use “jolly” in a sentence?

Here is “jolly” used in a sentence: “The jolly old man handed out sweets to the children.”

What part of speech is “jolly”?

Depending on how it is used, “jolly” can be an adjective and an adverb.

Where does the word “jolly” come from?

The word “jolly” comes from Old French. From Old French joli, "merry, cheerful" — its exact deeper origin is disputed, possibly linked to Old Norse jól ("Yule feast").

Is “jolly” a common word?

“Jolly” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “jolly” have?

“Jolly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: cheerful, good-humoured, and full of high spirits.

What is the difference between jolly and happy?

Jolly specifically implies a cheerful, good-humoured, high-spirited manner, often with an outgoing or festive quality, while happy is a more general word for feeling pleased or content. Jolly tends to describe an outward, sociable cheerfulness rather than a purely internal feeling.

When is jolly used as an intensifier?

As an adverb, jolly is a British informal intensifier meaning "very," as in "jolly good" or "jolly well." This usage is mainly heard in British English and sounds distinctly informal or old-fashioned in other varieties of English.

Is jolly good considered old-fashioned?

Yes, phrases like "jolly good" using the adverbial sense of jolly are often perceived as a somewhat dated or stereotypically British way of expressing strong approval, more common in earlier or more traditional speech than in everyday modern usage.

People also searched

pretty Gay sad somewhat fairly reasonably merry moderately cheerful festive gloomy convivial

Nearby words

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