cheerful

adjective

cheer·​ful ˈchir-fəl How to pronounce cheerful (audio)
1
a
: full of good spirits : merry
a cheerful host
b
: ungrudging
cheerful obedience
2
: conducive to cheer : likely to dispel gloom or worry
sunny cheerful room
cheerfully adverb
cheerfulness noun

Examples of cheerful in a Sentence

She has a cheerful outlook on life. He seems a little more cheerful today.
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.
Diana wore the cheerful frock on several occasions between 1988 and 1992, often during hospital visits and moments of connection with patients. Janine Henni, People.com, 28 June 2025 Volunteers from a nonprofit that trains service dogs, Helping Paws Inc., provided a little canine therapy for waiting mourners Friday at the Capitol, working the crowd with cheerful golden retrievers. John Hanna, Twin Cities, 28 June 2025 The height of these big, cheerful flowers varies depending on cultivar but all need full sun to thrive. Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025 So many celebs and normies alike have been gravitating toward sheer nude nails lately that it's become hard to picture wearing a bold color like in summers past, when our fingertips were decked out in neon shades, cherry red, nontraditional French manicures, and cheerful nail art. Marci Robin, Allure, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for cheerful

Word History

Etymology

see cheer entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cheerful was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cheerful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheerful. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

cheerful

adjective
cheer·​ful ˈchi(ə)r-fəl How to pronounce cheerful (audio)
1
a
: full of good spirits
a cheerful outlook
b
: willing sense 3
cheerful obedience
2
: pleasantly bright
a sunny cheerful room
cheerfully adverb
cheerfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on cheerful

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!