Jolly

UK: /ˈdʒɒli/ US: /ˈdʒɑli/ ,( jol′ē)

Inflections of 'jolly' (adj):

jollier

adj comparative

jolliest

adj superlative

Inflections of 'jolly' (n): npl: jollies

Inflections of 'jolly' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

jollies

v 3rd person singular

jollying

v pres p

jollied

v past

jollied

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

jol•ly /ˈdʒɑli/   adj., -li•er, -li•est, v., -lied, -ly•ing, n., pl. -lies, adv. 
adj. 

1. being in good spirits;
   merry.
2. cheerfully festive:
   a jolly party.

v. 

3. to try to keep (a person) happy or in good humor, esp. in order to gain something: [~ + object]
   The workers jollied the boss into giving them extra time off.
   [~ + object + along]
   They were just jollying the boss along.

n. 

4. Informal Terms Usually, jollies. [plural] thrills;
   kicks:
   getting their jollies from other people's misfortune.

adv. 

5. British Terms very:
   jolly good.

jol•li•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

jol•ly  ( jol′ē), adj., -li•er, -li•est, v., -lied, -ly•ing, n., pl. -lies, adv. 
adj. 

1. in good spirits;
   gay;
   merry:
   In a moment he was as jolly as ever.
2. cheerfully festive or convivial:
   a jolly party.
3. joyous;
   happy:
   Christmas is a jolly season.
4. British Terms [Chiefly Brit. Informal.] delightful;
   charming.
5. [Brit.]
   • British Terms [Informal.] great;
     thorough:
     a jolly blunderer.
   • [Slang.] slightly drunk;
     tipsy.

v.t. 

6. [Informal.] to talk or act agreeably to (a person) in order to keep that person in good humor, esp. in the hope of gaining something (usually followed by along):
   They jollied him along until the job was done.

v.i. 

7. Informal Terms to jolly a person;
   josh;
   kid.

n. 

8. Informal Terms the practice or an instance of jollying a person.
9. Informal Terms Usually, jollies. pleasurable excitement, esp. from or as if from something forbidden or improper;
   thrills;
   kicks:
   He gets his jollies from watching horror movies.

adv. 

10. British Terms extremely;
    very:
    He'll jolly well do as he's told.

• Old Norse jōl Yule) + -if -ive
• Old French, equivalent. to jol- (probably
• Middle English joli, jolif 1275–1325

jol′li•ly, adv. 
jol′li•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. –3. glad, spirited, jovial, sportive, playful. See gay. 

Antonyms

• 1. –3. gloomy, melancholy.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

jolly / ˈdʒɒlɪ/ adjective ( -lier, -liest)

1. full of good humour; jovial
2. having or provoking gaiety and merrymaking; festive
3. greatly enjoyable; pleasing

adverb

1. (intensifier): you're jolly nice

verb ( -lies, -lying, -lied)(transitive)

1. often followed by up or along: to try to make or keep (someone) cheerful
2. to make good-natured fun of

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French jolif, probably from Old Norse jōl yule

ˈjolliness noun