gladden

verb

glad·​den ˈgla-dᵊn How to pronounce gladden (audio)
gladdened; gladdening ˈgla-dᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce gladden (audio)

intransitive verb

archaic : to be glad

transitive verb

: to make glad

Examples of gladden in a Sentence

it would gladden me to hear you sing again
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
But there’s something genuinely gladdening to take away from this inquiry into the modern media. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 18 Feb. 2023 The quick-change, prop-heavy musical skit brings to the stage, briefly, staples from that classic variety show that will gladden the hearts of TV nostalgists: acrobats, plate spinners, jugglers, the Rockettes, the Vienna Boys Choir, Liberace and even the mouse puppet Topo Gigio. San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2022 The word from Washington is sure to gladden the Newsom campaign. Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2021 Even a dead beaver, with its buck teeth sticking out of its decomposing skull, seemed to gladden Balken. Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021 Lopez, after all, is a pop star—her work is to rouse, inspire, and gladden large crowds by encouraging them to revel in a moment of fleeting, collective joy. Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2021 The Concorde will gladden the hearts of record buffs. J. A. Maxtone Graham, Popular Mechanics, 24 Sep. 2020 That turnaround is sure to gladden the hearts of Republicans, who have no hope of controlling the White House without Texas. Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2020 What gladdens my heart about geese, and helps fend off the virus blues, is their complete self-absorption. James Gorman, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of gladden was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near gladden

Cite this Entry

“Gladden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gladden. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

gladden

verb
glad·​den ˈglad-ən How to pronounce gladden (audio)
gladdened; gladdening -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce gladden (audio)
: to make glad

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