delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing.
I'm so happy to see you!
characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy.
a happy mood;
a happy frame of mind.
willing to be helpful, as with assistance, a contribution, or participation.
We’ll be happy to bring a couple of salads to the party.
favored by fortune; fortunate or lucky.
Our home country is a happy, fruitful land.
(used as part of an expression of good wishes on a special occasion).
Happy Valentine’s Day to my husband.
Happy Birthday, Grandpa!
apt or felicitous, as actions, utterances, or ideas.
Their collaboration was a happy accident.
obsessed by or quick to use the item indicated (usually used in combination).
He was a trigger-happy gangster.
Everybody is gadget-happy these days.
feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased
willing
I'd be happy to show you around
causing joy or gladness
fortunate; lucky
the happy position of not having to work
aptly expressed; appropriate
a happy turn of phrase
informal (postpositive) slightly intoxicated
What is a basic definition of happy? Happy describes a feeling of joy, delight, or glee. It also describes something that is related to or shows joy. Happy can describe someone being willing to do something or be helpful. Happy is used in many expressions that wish good tidings to another person. Happy has a few other senses as an adjective. Happy describes feeling really good, as when a person in a good mood that makes them smile. Happiness refers to this positive emotion. Happily means in a happy way. Real-life examples: Everybody has something that makes them happy. Cute animals, presents, compliments, and loved ones make most people feel happy. Used in a sentence: The surprise birthday party really made Abdul happy. Happy also describes something that shows or is related to feelings of happiness and joy. Used in a sentence: The friendly clown had a happy smile. Happy describes someone being willing to do something, especially to help or assist someone else. They don’t think whatever they will do is a problem or a chore. Real-life examples: Many experts are happy to show off their knowledge. Salespeople are often happy to explain things to customers if it means selling more items. Used in a sentence: I’d be happy to give you a ride to the mall since I was going there anyway. The word happy is used in many greetings and expressions that wish a person well or wish that they have a good future. Used in a sentence: Happy birthday!
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English; see origin at hap 1 ( def. ), -y 1 ( def. )
Happy is a feeling of joy, pleasure, or good fortune — exactly how you'd feel if you learned that you won the lottery or got accepted into your number one choice of colleges. Happy hails from the Middle English word hap, meaning "good luck." Many of the early European words for happy actually referred to good luck, rather than a feeling of joy. On its own, happy means an enjoyable or satisfied state of being. When hyphenated, it can refer to an overwhelming inclination to do something. Someone who is trigger-happy, for example, has an overwhelming urge to shoot things, while a clothes-happy person is obsessed with taking trips to the mall.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She says Lee is not money-orientated and is happy for her to make the decisions.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
She is also an especially convincing action hero; you’re happy when the fight scenes come along.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Others will be happy hitting an iron that will go as long as a normal shot with their driver.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
"As long as it does not pose systemic risks, the government is happy to stabilise the market and gradually let other sectors play a more important role in the economy," Ng added.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
She seemed quite happy, happier certainly than the horses across the yard from her, who were becoming increasingly unsettled at the appearance of this strange intruder.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
Gasped Dr. Cook: "Thanks -happy," sank back into a coma.
From Time Magazine Archive
"In England especially, you have more contact - you are used to it. There is something in between where everybody can feel a bit happier."
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
America’s mood wasn’t much happier at the bicentennial—or the 1876 centennial for that matter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
And Gregg told his son he couldn’t be happier about or prouder of how things have worked out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
In fact, new research suggests they might be happier and more successful if they go back to the office.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 27, 2026
I let my mom know what we said after every session, and I can see that she is happier.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
“The happiest workers can engender similar emotions in their customers, but they are also better at their jobs,” said the report.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
As her mother explained, B.P.J. “is the happiest I have ever seen her when she is accepted for who she is and able to participate in school sports.”
From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2026
A man who has taken the same holiday for 61 years says he has been rewarded with some of his happiest memories.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Hockney would remember this period as one of his most prolific and happiest times in California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
Before the accident, we had been the happiest people I knew.
From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.