joy
joy
Joy (noun) means a feeling of great happiness or delight. Example: “Her face lit up with joy when she saw the surprise party.”
noun
1
A feeling of great happiness or delight.
"Her face lit up with joy when she saw the surprise party."
"There was pure joy in the stadium after the winning goal."
"The children shouted for joy as the first snow began to fall."
2
A person or thing that brings such happiness.
"Her grandchildren are the joy of her life."
"Our little dog is a joy to have around the house."
"Gardening has always been a joy for him, whatever the weather."
verb
1
To feel or express great happiness.
"They joyed in their newfound freedom."
"The crowd joyed at the sight of the returning team."
"We joy in every small victory our little charity achieves."
How to use joy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDeep happiness or delight, or something/someone that causes it.
Common mistake
In British informal speech, "no joy" means "no luck/success" — as in "I called the office but got no joy."
Common pairings
tears of joy
bring joy
pure joy
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like joy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- joys
- Third person singular
- joys
- Past tense
- joyed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her face lit up with _____ when she saw the surprise party.
Etymology
From Old French joie, from Latin gaudium ("joy"), from gaudēre ("to rejoice, be glad").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for joy
See all rhymes for joy →Frequently asked questions
What does “joy” mean?
The word “joy” means a feeling of great happiness or delight. In plain terms, deep happiness or delight, or something/someone that causes it.
How do you pronounce “joy”?
“Joy” is pronounced joy (/d͡ʒɔɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “joy” in a sentence?
Here is “joy” used in a sentence: “Her face lit up with joy when she saw the surprise party.”
What part of speech is “joy”?
Depending on how it is used, “joy” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “joy” come from?
The word “joy” comes from Latin. From Old French joie, from Latin gaudium ("joy"), from gaudēre ("to rejoice, be glad").
Is “joy” a common word?
“Joy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “joy” have?
“Joy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a feeling of great happiness or delight.
What is the difference between joy and happiness?
Happiness is often a response to pleasant circumstances and can come and go with them. Joy tends to run deeper and feel more lasting, a strong sense of delight that does not always depend on what is happening around you. The two are close, which is why they are so often used interchangeably.
What is the opposite of joy?
The opposites of joy are feelings such as sorrow, grief, and misery. Where joy is a surge of happiness and delight, these describe deep sadness or unhappiness. Milder opposites include gloom and dejection. The right choice depends on how intense the contrasting feeling is meant to be.
Is joy an emotion?
Yes. Joy is widely regarded as one of the basic human emotions, marked by a strong feeling of happiness, pleasure, and delight. It often shows outwardly through smiling, laughter, and a sense of lightness. Unlike a passing mood, joy can be intense and deeply felt, whether sparked by an event or welling up on its own.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include joy:
