Happy Definition & Meaning

American

British

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Usage

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms happy American [hap-ee] / ˈhæp i /

adjective

happier, happiest

1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing.

   I'm so happy to see you!

   Synonyms: satisfied, blissful, contented, merry, cheerful, blithe, joyful, joyous Antonyms: sad

2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy.

   a happy mood;

   a happy frame of mind.

3. willing to be helpful, as with assistance, a contribution, or participation.

   We’ll be happy to bring a couple of salads to the party.

4. favored by fortune; fortunate or lucky.

   Our home country is a happy, fruitful land.

   Synonyms: prosperous, successful, propitious, favorable

5. (used as part of an expression of good wishes on a special occasion).

   Happy Valentine’s Day to my husband.

   Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

6. apt or felicitous, as actions, utterances, or ideas.

   Their collaboration was a happy accident.

   Synonyms: pertinent, opportune, fitting, appropriate

7. obsessed by or quick to use the item indicated (usually used in combination).

   He was a trigger-happy gangster.

   Everybody is gadget-happy these days.

idioms

1. happy as a clam. happy as a clam.

happy 1 British / ˈhæpɪ /

adjective

1. feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased

2. willing

   I'd be happy to show you around

3. causing joy or gladness

4. fortunate; lucky

   the happy position of not having to work

5. aptly expressed; appropriate

   a happy turn of phrase

6. informal (postpositive) slightly intoxicated

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

interjection

1. ( in combination )

   happy birthday

   happy Christmas

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 -happy 2 British

combining form

1. denoting excessive enthusiasm for or devotion to

   gun-happy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 happy More Idioms

More idioms and phrases containing happy

• many happy returns
• trigger happy

Usage

What is a basic definition of happy? Happy describes a feeling of joy, delight, or glee. It also describes something that is related to or shows joy. Happy can describe someone being willing to do something or be helpful. Happy is used in many expressions that wish good tidings to another person. Happy has a few other senses as an adjective.Happy describes feeling really good, as when a person in a good mood that makes them smile. Happiness refers to this positive emotion. Happily means in a happy way.Real-life examples: Everybody has something that makes them happy. Cute animals, presents, compliments, and loved ones make most people feel happy.Used in a sentence: The surprise birthday party really made Abdul happy.Happy also describes something that shows or is related to feelings of happiness and joy.Used in a sentence: The friendly clown had a happy smile. Happy describes someone being willing to do something, especially to help or assist someone else. They don’t think whatever they will do is a problem or a chore.Real-life examples: Many experts are happy to show off their knowledge. Salespeople are often happy to explain things to customers if it means selling more items.Used in a sentence: I’d be happy to give you a ride to the mall since I was going there anyway. The word happy is used in many greetings and expressions that wish a person well or wish that they have a good future.Used in a sentence: Happy birthday!

Other Word Forms

• happily adverb
• happiness noun
• overhappy adjective
• quasi-happy adjective

Etymology

Origin of happy

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English; hap 1 ( def. ), -y 1 ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Smilovic: Sales could be high and yet I saw that as a company we weren’t happy.

From MarketWatch

“I’m happy now to watch how good it is, how well received it is,” Selig told me.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Junod and his mother were happiest when Lou was away on business trips to places like Miami and Las Vegas.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I'm really happy to be on the court and just really enjoy it overall. I'm not sure, going forward, what it will look like."

From BBC

It was two years before she could feel happy again without a sense of guilt.

From Barron's

Related Words

• cheerful
• delighted
• ecstatic
• elated
• enraptured
• exultant
• glad
• gleeful
• jolly
• joyful
• joyous
• jubilant
• merry
• mirthful
• overjoyed
• thrilled
• up
• upbeat

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.