Joy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈjȯi/

Meaning & Definition of Joy

Joy (noun)

  1. a feeling of great happiness or pleasure, delight
  2. the expression or exhibition of such emotion
  3. a state of great happiness, bliss

Joy (verb)

  1. to experience great pleasure or delight, rejoice
  2. gladden
  3. enjoy

Joy (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a feeling or state of well-being and contentment

    "the inexpressible joy that the couple are feeling upon the birth of their first child"

    similar: beatitude, blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, felicity, gladness, happiness, warm fuzzies
    related: elatedness, elation, exhilaration, exultation, high, intoxication, ecstasy, euphoria, glory, heaven, nirvana, paradise, rapture, rapturousness, ravishment, seventh heaven, transport, delectation, delight, enjoyment, pleasure, cheer, cheerfulness, comfort, exuberance, gaiety, gladsomeness, glee, gleefulness, jocundity, jollity, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilance, jubilation, lightheartedness, merriness, mirth, content, contentedness, gratification, satisfaction, triumph
    opposite: calamity, ill-being, misery, sadness, unhappiness, wretchedness
    near: agony, anguish, desolation, joylessness, sorrow, sufferance, woe, woefulness, blues, cheerlessness, dejection, depression, desolateness, despondency, disheartenment, dispiritedness, doldrums, downheartedness, gloom, gloominess, melancholy, mournfulness, plaintiveness, Gehenna, hell, purgatory

  2. a source of great satisfaction

    "my car is my pride and joy"

    similar: delectation, delight, feast, gas (slang), kick, manna, pleasure, treat
    related: amusement, diversion, entertainment, fun, recreation, comfort, relief, solace, gratification, indulgence, ambrosia

Joy (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to feel or express joy or triumph

    "the whole town is joying in the fact that its oldest church has been restored to its Victorian splendor"

    similar: crow, delight, exuberate, exult, glory, jubilate, kvell, rejoice, triumph, kick up one's heels
    related: gloat, preen, swell, boast, brag, flaunt, parade, show off, strut, swagger
    near: bemoan, bewail, grieve, lament, regret, weep

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Joy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Joy:

Slang: gas
beatitude, blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, felicity, gladness, happiness, warm fuzzies, delectation, delight, feast, kick, manna, pleasure, treat, crow, exuberate, exult, glory, jubilate, kvell, rejoice, triumph, kick up one's heels

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Joy

Words with the opposite meaning of Joy:

calamity, ill-being, misery, sadness, unhappiness, wretchedness

Related Words for Joy

elatedness, elation, exhilaration, exultation, high, intoxication, ecstasy, euphoria, heaven, nirvana, paradise, rapture, rapturousness, ravishment, seventh heaven, transport, enjoyment, cheer, cheerfulness, comfort, exuberance, gaiety, gladsomeness, glee, gleefulness, jocundity, jollity, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilance

Near Antonyms of Joy

agony, anguish, desolation, joylessness, sorrow, sufferance, woe, woefulness, blues, cheerlessness, dejection, depression, desolateness, despondency, disheartenment, dispiritedness, doldrums, downheartedness, gloom, gloominess, melancholy, mournfulness, plaintiveness, Gehenna, hell, purgatory, bemoan, bewail, grieve, lament

Word Forms of Joy

Inflections: joyed, joying, joys

Derived words: joyless (adjective), joylessly (adverb), joylessness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Joy

Middle English, from Anglo-French joie, from Latin gaudia, plural of gaudium, from gaudēre to rejoice; probably akin to Greek gēthein to rejoice

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Joy

Words & Phrases Containing Joy

pride and joy, shout for joy

Frequently Asked Questions about Joy

What does "Joy" mean?

"Joy" means a feeling of great happiness or pleasure, delight. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a feeling of great happiness or pleasure, delight. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Joy"?

Other words for "Joy" include beatitude, blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, felicity, gladness, happiness and warm fuzzies. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Joy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Joy"?

There are 82 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Joy". Common alternatives include beatitude, blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, felicity, gladness, happiness, warm fuzzies, delectation and delight.

What is the opposite of "Joy"?

Antonyms of "Joy" include calamity, ill-being, misery, sadness, unhappiness and wretchedness. Near antonyms include agony, anguish, desolation and joylessness.

How do you use "Joy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Joy" in a sentence: "the inexpressible joy that the couple are feeling upon the birth of their first child"; "my car is my pride and joy"; "the whole town is joying in the fact that its oldest church has been restored to its Victorian splendor".

Is "Joy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Joy" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Joy" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Joy" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Joy"?

"Joy" is pronounced /ˈjȯi/.