# rejoice

/ɹɪˈdʒɔɪs/ (US) · /ɹɪdʒˈɔɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rejoice
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 2. to make someone happy

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

to give someone a feeling of great happiness.

For teachers: to cause someone to feel great joy or delight. This transitive use is less common in modern English than the intransitive form.

- It rejoiced her heart to see her children playing together so happily.
- The news of the recovery rejoiced the family, lifting a heavy burden of worry that had persisted for months.

Usage: Used transitively with a direct object, often a person or their 'heart'.

Teaching tip: This transitive use is largely restricted to older literature and formal religious contexts.

## Examples

- The fans rejoice when their team finally wins the championship.
- The entire nation seemed to rejoice at the news that the long conflict had finally ended.
- While the scientists did not yet have a cure, they had reason to rejoice in the significant progress made during the initial clinical trials.

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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.