Word
joy
US/ˈdʒɔɪ/
UK/dʒˈɔɪ/
Definitions
01feeling of happiness
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun
n. a feeling of great happiness or pleasure.
n. a state of intense happiness or delight, often associated with a specific event or achievement.
日本語:喜び※
“The children's faces were full of joy when they saw the snow.”
“The team's unexpected victory brought a sense of pure joy to the local community after years of disappointment.”
02source of happiness
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person or thing that makes you feel very happy.
n. a person, object, or event that serves as a source of great pleasure or satisfaction.
日本語:喜び※
“Her garden is her pride and joy.”
“The new library has been a joy to the neighbourhood, providing a quiet space for students and retirees alike.”
03success or luck
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun British English · Informal
n. success or luck in doing something, often used in the negative.
n. success, satisfaction, or a positive result; frequently used in negative constructions or questions regarding progress.
“I tried to fix the computer myself but I had no joy.”
“The investigators spent months chasing the lead but ultimately had no joy in locating the missing documents.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'get any joy' or 'have no joy'.
Antonyms
04to feel great happiness
C2 · Proficiency Literary
v. to feel or show great happiness.
v. to experience or express great delight; to rejoice.
“The people joyed in the return of peace to their land.”
“The poet describes a soul that joys in the simple beauty of the natural world, far from the noise of the city.”
Teaching tip
This verb form is rare in modern speech; students should use 'rejoice' or 'be happy' instead.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “joy” in context.
Verb
01. bring joy
“The arrival of the new baby brought immense joy to the whole family.”
verb + noun
02. express joy
“The children expressed their joy by dancing around the room.”
verb + noun
03. find joy in music
“Even during difficult times, she managed to find joy in music.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
04. overwhelming joy
“She felt a sense of overwhelming joy as she walked across the graduation stage.”
adj + noun
05. sheer joy
“The look on his face was one of sheer joy when he won the race.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. bundle of joy
“They are so excited to welcome their little bundle of joy this summer.”
noun + of + noun
07. tears of joy
“There were tears of joy in her eyes when she saw her brother after ten years.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. jump for joy
“We literally jumped for joy when we heard that our offer on the house was accepted.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Watford’s Amin Nabizada jumps for joy after scoring their second goal against Southampton.” “Forced into the company of walkers, Roland comes to realise the importance of community and the joy of pooches.” Etymology
From the noun joy, first used by Puritans in the 17th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/joy
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0