merry

adjective

mer·​ry ˈmer-ē 

ˈme-rē

merrier; merriest

1

: full of gaiety or high spirits : mirthful

eat, drink, and be merry

2

: marked by festivity or gaiety

a merry holiday time

3

: quick, brisk

a merry pace

4

archaic : giving pleasure : delightful

merrily

ˈmer-ə-lē 

ˈme-rə-

adverb

merriness

ˈmer-ē-nəs 

ˈme-rē-

noun

Synonyms

• blithe
• blithesome
• festive
• gay
• gleeful
• jocose
• jocular
• jocund
• jolly
• jovial
• laughing
• mirthful
• sunny

Choose the Right Synonym for merry

merry, blithe, jocund, jovial, jolly mean showing high spirits or lightheartedness.

merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity.

a merry group of revelers

blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety.

arrived late in his usual blithe way

jocund stresses elation and exhilaration of spirits.

singing, dancing, and jocund feasting

jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship.

dinner put them in a jovial mood

jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting.

our jolly host enlivened the party

Examples of merry in a Sentence

Let's eat, drink, and be merry!

They sang a merry little song.

Recent Examples on the Web

Now Quentin and his merry band of murderous gays are dead by her hand, presumably leaving Greg to enjoy an undivided inheritance of $500 million. —Judy Berman, TIME, 17 Feb. 2025

In the Hollywood version, Julie Andrews plays the adorable Maria opposite Christopher Plummer’s dashing captain, leading their merry band of children out of Austria on the cusp of the Second World War. —Vogue, 15 Feb. 2025

But 50 years in, the legend of Lorne Michaels’ merry circus has already been celebrated, many times over. —Alison Herman, Variety, 16 Jan. 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished Christians worldwide a merry Christmas and thanked the Christian community for its support amid the Jewish state's ongoing conflicts with terror groups. —Landon Mion, Fox News, 25 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mery, from Old English myrge, merge; akin to Old High German murg short — more at brief

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing merry

• be on one's merry way
• go on one's merry way
• lead (someone) a merry chase
• lead (someone) a (merry) dance
• make merry
• merry-andrew
• merry-go-round
• merry widow
• play merry hell with

Kids Definition

merry

adjective

mer·​ry ˈmer-ē 

merrier; merriest

1

: full of good humor and good spirits : mirthful

2

: marked by gaiety or festivity

a merry Christmas

merrily

ˈmer-ə-lē 

adverb

merriness

ˈmer-ē-nəs 

noun