glee

noun

1
: exultant high-spirited joy : merriment
dancing with glee
2
: a part-song for usually male voices

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
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.
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 See all Example Sentences for glee 

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

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

noun
1
: high-spirited joy
2
: an unaccompanied song for three or more voices
gleeful
-fəl
adjective
gleefully
-fə-lē
adverb
gleefulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on glee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!