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>
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Origin of HAPPY

Middle English, from hap
First Known Use: 14th century

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>.
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.>
4
:  fortunate 1, lucky <Meeting him was a happy occurrence.>
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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