joyful

adjective

joy·​ful ˈjȯi-fəl How to pronounce joyful (audio)
: experiencing, causing, or showing joy : happy
a joyful crowd
joyful faces
a joyful occasion
joyfully adverb
joyfulness noun

Examples of joyful in a Sentence

We were joyful at the news. the news of the child's safe return made us all joyful
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.
Lucky Charms Rainbow Sprinkles Lucky Charms Rainbow Sprinkles cereal boasts a delicious birthday cake flavor with confetti sprinkle pieces, making every bite a joyful explosion of fun. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025 Alyssa describes her work as colorful and joyful, often incorporating small details that together tell a larger story. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025 And yes, this film scores free points for inspiring one of the finest and most joyful sequels of the 21st Century. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025 An unexpectedly funny and joyful love story, poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley navigate life and mortality in the face of an incurable diagnosis. Addie Morfoot, Variety, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for joyful

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Joyful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joyful. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

joyful

adjective
joy·​ful ˈjȯi-fəl How to pronounce joyful (audio)
: feeling, causing, or showing joy
a joyful family reunion
joyfully adverb
joyfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on joyful

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!