happiness

noun

hap·​pi·​ness ˈha-pē-nəs How to pronounce happiness (audio)
1
a
: a state of well-being and contentment : joy
b
: a pleasurable or satisfying experience
I wish you every happiness in life.
I had the happiness of seeing youW. S. Gilbert
2
: felicity, aptness
a striking happiness of expression
3
obsolete : good fortune : prosperity
all happiness bechance to theeWilliam Shakespeare

Examples of happiness in a Sentence

They made a toast to long life and happiness. her happiness was complete when she got her very own house
Recent Examples on the Web David and Brooks, may your love and happiness only continue to grow with you. Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2024 Reflect on the ways in which their presence enriched your life and brought you happiness. Mark Travers, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 But in today’s Russia, freedom and happiness have never seemed further away. Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 Scottsdale was named the 10th happiest city in the U.S. in a recent WalletHub ranking that examined 182 cities based on 29 key indicators of happiness, including depression rates, income-growth rates and average leisure time per day. Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024 Balance and equality are the paths to personal happiness. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 Our instant, pure happiness of liking each other’s ideas about the song, that to me felt like, okay, this song is already good. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024 This way, your business plans don't just chase profits but also contribute to your overall happiness and fulfillment. Bianca Barratt, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Residents in the Johnson County city have a lot of leisure time each week compared to people in most other cities, which contributes to their happiness, the website said. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'happiness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see happy

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of happiness was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near happiness

Cite this Entry

“Happiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happiness. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

happiness

noun
hap·​pi·​ness ˈhap-i-nəs How to pronounce happiness (audio)
: a state of well-being and contentment : joy

More from Merriam-Webster on happiness

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