First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
happy
adjective hap·py \ˈha-pē\
: feeling pleasure and enjoyment because of your life, situation, etc.
: showing or causing feelings of pleasure and enjoyment
: pleased or glad about a particular situation, event, etc.
hap·pi·erhap·pi·est
Full Definition of HAPPY
1
: favored by luck or fortune : fortunate <a happy coincidence>
2
: notably fitting, effective, or well adapted : felicitous <a happy choice>
3
a : enjoying or characterized by well-being and contentment <is the happiest person I know> <a happy childhood> b : expressing, reflecting, or suggestive of happiness <a happy ending> c : glad, pleased <I'm happy to meet you> d : having or marked by an atmosphere of good fellowship : friendly <a happy office>
4
a : characterized by a dazed irresponsible state <a punch-happy boxer> b : impulsively or obsessively quick to use or do something <trigger-happy> c : enthusiastic about something to the point of obsession : obsessed <education-conscious and statistic-happy — Helen Rowen>
See happy defined for English-language learners
See happy defined for kids
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Origin of HAPPY
Middle English, from hap
Related to HAPPY
- Synonyms
- fluky (also flukey), fortuitous, fortunate, heaven-sent, lucky, providential
- Antonyms
- hapless, ill-fated, ill-starred, luckless, star-crossed, unfortunate, unhappy, unlucky
Synonym Discussion of HAPPY
lucky, fortunate, happy, providential mean meeting with unforeseen success. lucky stresses the agency of chance in bringing about a favorable result <won because of a lucky bounce>. fortunate suggests being rewarded beyond one's deserts <fortunate in my investments>. happy combines the implications of lucky and fortunate with stress on being blessed <a series of happy accidents>. providential more definitely implies the help or intervention of a higher power <a providential change in the weather>.
fit, suitable, meet, proper, appropriate, fitting, apt, happy, felicitous mean right with respect to some end, need, use, or circumstance. fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action <fit for battle>. suitable implies an answering to requirements or demands <clothes suitable for camping>. meet suggests a just proportioning <meet payment>. proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom <proper acknowledgement>. appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness <an appropriate gift>. fitting implies harmony of mood or tone <a fitting end>. apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination <apt quotations>. happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate <a happy choice of words>. felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful <a felicitous phrase>.
fit, suitable, meet, proper, appropriate, fitting, apt, happy, felicitous mean right with respect to some end, need, use, or circumstance. fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action <fit for battle>. suitable implies an answering to requirements or demands <clothes suitable for camping>. meet suggests a just proportioning <meet payment>. proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom <proper acknowledgement>. appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness <an appropriate gift>. fitting implies harmony of mood or tone <a fitting end>. apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination <apt quotations>. happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate <a happy choice of words>. felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful <a felicitous phrase>.
HAPPY Defined for Kids
happy
adjective hap·py \ˈha-pē\
hap·pi·erhap·pi·est
Definition of HAPPY for Kids
1
: feeling or showing pleasure : glad <I'm happy you came.>
2
: enjoying a condition or situation : content <They were happy together.>
3
: joyful <She talked in a happy way.>
5
: being suitable for something <a happy choice>
— hap·pi·ly \ˈha-pə-lē\ adverb
— hap·pi·ness \ˈha-pē-nəs\ noun
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