# joyful

/ˈdʒɔɪfəɫ/ (US) · /dʒˈɔɪfəl/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/joyful
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

feeling or showing great happiness. You use this to describe people, events, or things that make you feel very glad.

For teachers: experiencing, causing, or showing great pleasure or delight. Often used to describe a state of being or the atmosphere of a specific occasion.

## Examples

- The children had a joyful afternoon at the park.
- The choir sang a joyful song to celebrate the end of the festival.
- The reunion was a joyful occasion, marked by laughter and the sharing of stories that had been forgotten over the decades.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used both before a noun and after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'be'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.