happy

UK: /ˈhæpi/ US: /ˈhæpi/ ,(hap′ē)

Inflections of 'happy' (adj):

happier

adj comparative

happiest

adj superlative

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

hap•py /ˈhæpi/   adj., -pi•er, -pi•est. 

1. delighted; pleased;
   glad:
   happy over the news.
2. characterized by or showing pleasure, contentment, or joy:
   a happy baby.
3. pleased;
   willing:
   [be + ~ + to + verb] I'll be happy to meet with you later.
4. apt;
   suitable;
   appropriate:
   That remark was not a happy one.

hap•pi•ly /ˈhæpəli/  adv.: 

The kids were playing happily together.

hap•pi•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

hap•py  (hap′ē), adj., -pi•er, -pi•est. 

1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing:
   to be happy to see a person.
2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy:
   a happy mood; a happy frame of mind.
3. favored by fortune;
   fortunate or lucky:
   a happy, fruitful land.
4. apt or felicitous, as actions, utterances, or ideas.
5. obsessed by or quick to use the item indicated (usually used in combination):
   a trigger-happy gangster. Everybody is gadget-happy these days.

• 1300–50; Middle English; see hap¹, -y¹

Synonyms

• 1. joyous, joyful, blithe, cheerful, merry, contented, gay, blissful, satisfied.
• 3. favorable, propitious; successful, prosperous. See fortunate. 
• 4. appropriate, fitting, opportune, pertinent.

Antonyms

• 1. sad.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

happy / ˈhæpɪ/ adjective ( -pier, -piest)

1. feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased
2. willing: I'd be happy to show you around
3. causing joy or gladness
4. fortunate; lucky: the happy position of not having to work
5. aptly expressed; appropriate: a happy turn of phrase
6. (postpositive) slightly intoxicated

See also trigger-happyEtymology: 14th Century: see hap¹, -y¹

ˈhappily adverb

ˈhappiness noun