joyous

adjective

joy·​ous ˈjȯi-əs How to pronounce joyous (audio)
: joyful
a joyous occasion
a joyous celebration
joyously adverb
joyousness noun

Examples of joyous in a Sentence

a mood of joyous anticipation a joyous crowd eagerly awaiting the countdown to midnight on New Year's Eve
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There is a joyous moment for the women when Sarah finally gets the hang of Cantonese. George Gene Gustines, New York Times, 1 June 2025 In this joyous, reflective show with a big heart, Ana García is a high school senior and aspiring writer living in East Los Angeles. Jeryl Brunner, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025 There will be days that don’t necessarily feel joyous and effortless, even for experienced runners, Wijayaratne says. Lauren Wingenroth, SELF, 30 May 2025 The festivities didn’t end there, however, as the St. Jude School Program’s annual high school commencement further honored 45 high school seniors the next day, rounding out a joyous celebration of the students' accomplishments, both personally and academically. Jillian Frankel, People.com, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for joyous

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Joyous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joyous. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

joyous

adjective
joy·​ous ˈjȯi-əs How to pronounce joyous (audio)
: feeling, causing, or showing joy : joyful
joyously adverb
joyousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on joyous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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