happy

adjective

hap·​py ˈha-pē How to pronounce happy (audio)
happier; happiest
1
: favored by luck or fortune : fortunate
a happy coincidence
2
: notably fitting, effective, or well adapted : felicitous
a happy choice
3
a
: enjoying or characterized by well-being and contentment
is the happiest person I know
a happy childhood
b
: expressing, reflecting, or suggestive of happiness
a happy ending
c
: glad, pleased
I'm happy to meet you
d
: having or marked by an atmosphere of good fellowship : friendly
a happy office
4
a
: characterized by a dazed irresponsible state
a punch-happy boxer
b
: impulsively or obsessively quick to use or do something
trigger-happy
c
: enthusiastic about something to the point of obsession : obsessed
education-conscious and statistic-happyHelen Rowen
Choose the Right Synonym for happy

lucky, fortunate, happy, providential mean meeting with unforeseen success.

lucky stresses the role of chance in bringing about a favorable result.

won because of a lucky bounce

fortunate suggests being rewarded beyond what one deserves.

fortunate in my investments

happy combines the implications of lucky and fortunate with stress on being blessed.

a series of happy accidents

providential more definitely implies the help or intervention of a higher power.

a providential change in the weather

fit, suitable, meet, proper, appropriate, fitting, apt, happy, felicitous mean right with respect to some end, need, use, or circumstance.

fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action.

fit for battle

suitable implies an answering to requirements or demands.

clothes suitable for camping

meet suggests a just proportioning.

meet payment

proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom.

proper acknowledgement

appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness.

an appropriate gift

fitting implies harmony of mood or tone.

a fitting end

apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination.

apt quotations

happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate.

a happy choice of words

felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful.

a felicitous phrase

Examples of happy in a Sentence

She was a very happy child. You don't look happy. What's the problem? We're all one big, happy family here. I'd do anything to make her happy. I could hear the children's happy laughter in the other room. She had a very happy childhood. They've had a very happy marriage. I was glad the movie had a happy ending. We are so happy that you were able to come to the party. They are not at all happy about the rise in taxes.
Recent Examples on the Web Like Rubber Soul, Eternal Sunshine is an album of painful romances with no happy endings. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 Pitchfork is very happy to announce the details of Pitchfork Music Festival 2024. Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2024 Joe Manganiello wasn’t happy with the 2014 conclusion of True Blood. Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 Lemon said Wednesday in an X post that Musk was not happy with the sitdown and killed the deal to carry the program on the platform. Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Don’t be afraid to compromise Being able to make the occasional concession is key to a happy and stable relationship. Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024 Their progression has only been hastened by the deluge of happy hair system recipients that have started to flood our social media feeds. John Ortved, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 The film’s characters are often enticed by the possibility of disappearing into happy memories, especially when their lives get tough. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 Slot game lovers will be happy to explore the Thrilling Chase promotion which awards a specific amount of free spins for 11 days and an $80 free bonus on the 12th day. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'happy.' 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

Middle English, from hap

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of happy was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near happy

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

happy

adjective
hap·​py ˈhap-ē How to pronounce happy (audio)
happier; happiest
1
2
: suitable sense 1
a happy choice for governor
3
a
: enjoying well-being and contentment
happy in my work
b
: expressing or suggestive of happiness
happy laughter
c
: being pleased or glad
happy to accept an invitation
Etymology

Middle English happy "having or being good luck," a specialized sense of hap "chance, chance occurrence" — related to happen, mishap, perhaps

More from Merriam-Webster on happy

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