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1
: exultant high-spirited joy : merriment
dancing with glee
2
: a part-song for usually male voices
Synonyms
Examples of glee in a Sentence
They were dancing with glee.
He could hardly contain his glee over his victory.
Recent Examples on the Web
For about an hour one recent afternoon, solo adult visitors reacted with childlike glee, snapping selfies in front of the massive bones.
—Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
The stories take some joy in showing how wicked these people are but even more glee in turning them into bloody messes by the end.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
Much of this diaspora has also responded to Assad’s downfall with astonished glee, some rushing to return home.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 10 Dec. 2024
Yet there’s much more to be said about Ohanian’s original article, as well as the glee with which conservatives seized on its headline claim as the basis for largely groundless attacks on California’s economic policies.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English glēo entertainment, music; akin to Old Norse glȳ joy, and perhaps to Greek chleuē joke
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of glee was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing glee
Dictionary Entries Near glee
Cite this Entry
“Glee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glee. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
glee
noun1
: high-spirited joy
2
: an unaccompanied song for three or more voices
gleeful
adjective
-fəl
gleefully
adverb
-fə-lē
gleefulness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on glee
Nglish: Translation of glee for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of glee for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about glee
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