hap ‧ py S1 W1 /ˈhæpi/ BrE AmE adjective ( comparative happier , superlative happiest )
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ happiness ≠ ↑ unhappiness ; adverb : ↑ happily ≠ ↑ unhappily ; adjective : ↑ happy ≠ ↑ unhappy ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: hap 'chance, luck' (13-20 centuries) , from Old Norse happ ]
1 . having feelings of pleasure, for example because something good has happened to you or you are very satisfied with your life OPP sad :
It’s a lovely house and we’ve been very happy here.
I’ve never felt happier in my life.
He was a happy child who rarely cried.
the happy faces of the children
I loved her and thought I could make her happy.
happy to do something
John will be so happy to see you.
happy (that)
I’m happy that everything worked out well in the end.
be/feel happy for somebody
What a wonderful opportunity! I’m so happy for you.
happy in your work/job etc
happy to be doing something
We’re very happy to be taking part.
the happy couple (=a couple that have just got married or will soon get married)
2 . [usually before noun] a happy time, relationship, event etc is a good one that makes you feel happy:
This has been the happiest day of my life.
They had a very happy marriage.
I have lots of happy memories of the place.
The story has a happy ending, however.
When’s the happy event (=the birth of your child) ?
3 . [not before noun] satisfied or not worried
happy with
On the whole, I’m happy with the way I look.
People living nearby are not happy with the decision.
happy about
Mom wasn’t happy about Tess going off travelling on her own.
I pretended to agree with her, just to keep her happy.
happy doing something
I’m quite happy doing what I’m doing.
4 . be happy to do something to be very willing to do something, especially to help someone:
Our team will be happy to help.
I’d be happy to take you in my car.
5 . Happy Birthday/New Year/Christmas etc used to wish someone happiness on a special occasion:
Happy Birthday, Michael!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
6 . many happy returns used to wish someone happiness on their ↑ birthday
7 . [only before noun] fortunate or lucky:
By a happy coincidence, James was also in town that weekend.
I’m in the happy position of not having to work.
8 . a happy medium (between something and something) a way of doing something that is not extreme but is somewhere between two possible choices:
I always tried to strike a happy medium between having a home that looked like a bomb had hit it and becoming obsessively tidy.
9 . [only before noun] formal suitable:
His choice of words was not a very happy one.
10 . a/your happy place if you are in or go to your happy place, you imagine you are in a place that makes you feel calm and happy, because it helps you stop thinking about a bad situation
11 . not a happy bunny especially British English informal , not a happy camper American English informal not pleased with a situation
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ happy :
Are you happy in your new job?
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The film has a happy ending.
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a happy childhood
▪ cheerful looking happy:
a cheerful face/expression
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The room looked bright and cheerful (=it made you feel good) .
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He seems a lot more cheerful today.
▪ be in a good mood to feel happy and relaxed:
It was the day before the vacation and everyone was in a good mood.
▪ contented written feeling happy with your life, job, situation etc:
He was contented with his job as a cycle mechanic.
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She sat down with a contented expression on her face.
▪ pleased/glad [not before noun] happy because something good has happened:
I’m pleased I passed my exam.
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He was glad to see someone that he knew.
■ very happy
▪ delighted [not before noun] very happy because something good has happened:
The doctors say they are delighted with her progress.
▪ thrilled [not before noun] very happy and excited about something:
He’s thrilled at the idea of going to Disneyworld.
▪ overjoyed [not before noun] very happy because you have heard some good news:
She was overjoyed when she found out that her son was safe.
▪ be on top of the world ( also be over the moon British English ) [not before noun] informal to be very happy:
I was over the moon when I won the championship.
▪ ecstatic extremely happy:
The crowd were ecstatic, and cheered wildly.
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ecstatic fans
▪ blissful a blissful time is one in which you feel extremely happy:
We stayed on the islands for two blissful weeks.
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It sounded blissful – sea, sun, and good food.