happy

[hap-ee]

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.

happy

¹

/ 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

interjection

1. ( in combination )

   happy birthday

   happy Christmas

-happy

²

combining form

1. denoting excessive enthusiasm for or devotion to

   gun-happy

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of happy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of happy¹

C14: see _hap ¹ , _-y ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

More idioms and phrases containing happy

• many happy returns
• trigger happy

Example Sentences

ICE’s attempted nabbing of police and sheriff’s departments for their staff isn’t making local law enforcement leaders happy.

From Los Angeles Times

"I feel so happy that I got 9s last year for maths and chemistry, even though I started one year earlier than my brother," she said.

From BBC

“I’m a real Disney head,” he says, joking that such a declaration may not make his Universal partners happy.

From Los Angeles Times

First seen cycling his city’s streets day and night with a becalmed sense of ownership, Holland’s Roger is a die-hard Brooklynite none too happy with the smoothing over of his cherished neighborhoods by “obscene” money.

From Los Angeles Times

They have an amazing happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., and I love their lychee martinis.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

When To Use

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!