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.
"I watched with glee while your kings and queens fought for ten decades for the gods they made."
— “Sympathy for the Devil”, Sympathy for the Devil (1968)
"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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- glees
- Third person singular
- glees
- Past tense
- gleed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Class of 1500
glee joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
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.
