glee

noun

ˈglē 

1

: exultant high-spirited joy : merriment

dancing with glee

2

: a part-song for usually male voices

Synonyms

• cheer
• cheerfulness
• cheeriness
• festivity
• gaiety
• gayety
• gayness
• gleefulness
• hilarity
• jocundity
• joviality
• merriment
• merriness
• mirth
• mirthfulness

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

American scientists crowed with glee over evidence that America was as old as Europe. —Caroline Winterer / Made By History, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025

Maria hides her pills from her household staff with the glee of a child stashing her Halloween candy. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2025

What People Are Saying Fans reacted to the surprise song with glee on Wallen's Instagram post. —George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024

This is more than believable as Barnes strings together seemingly simple movements — flapping a leg on repeat, spinning with freedom and force, snapping her fingers with glee — whipping from one direction to the next like a gale wind. —Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025

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

Phrases Containing glee

• glee club

Kids Definition

glee

noun

ˈglē 

1

: high-spirited joy

2

: an unaccompanied song for three or more voices

gleeful

-fəl

adjective

gleefully

-fə-lē

adverb

gleefulness noun