/ ˈhæpi; NAmE / adjective
( hap·pier , hap·pi·est )
FEELING / GIVING PLEASURE
1.
happy (to do sth) | happy (for sb) | happy (that ... ) feeling or showing pleasure; pleased :
a happy smile / face
You don't look very happy today.
We are happy to announce the engagement of our daughter.
I'm very happy for you.
➡ note at glad
2.
giving or causing pleasure :
a happy marriage / memory / childhood
The story has a happy ending .
Those were the happiest days of my life.
AT CELEBRATION
3.
if you wish sb a Happy Birthday , Happy New Year , etc. you mean that you hope they have a pleasant celebration
SATISFIED
4.
happy (with / about sb/sth) satisfied that sth is good or right; not anxious :
Are you happy with that arrangement?
If there's anything you're not happy about, come and ask.
I'm not happy with his work this term.
She was happy enough with her performance.
I'm not too happy about her living alone.
I said I'd go just to keep him happy .
WILLING
5.
happy to do sth ( formal ) willing or pleased to do sth :
I'm happy to leave it till tomorrow.
He will be more than happy to come with us.
LUCKY
6.
lucky; successful
SYN fortunate :
By a happy coincidence , we arrived at exactly the same time.
He is in the happy position of never having to worry about money.
SUITABLE
7.
( formal ) ( of words, ideas or behaviour ) suitable and appropriate for a particular situation :
That wasn't the happiest choice of words.
► hap·pi·ness noun [ U ]:
to find true happiness
Her eyes shone with happiness.
➡ note at satisfaction
•
IDIOMS
- a happy event
- a / the happy medium
- not a happy bunny
- many happy returns (of the day)
—more at mean noun
••
SYNONYMS
happy
satisfied ♦ content ♦ contented ♦ joyful ♦ blissful
These words all describe feeling, showing or giving pleasure or satisfaction.
happy
feeling, showing or giving pleasure; satisfied with sth or not worried about it:
a happy marriage/ memory/ childhood
•
I said I'd go, just to keep him happy .
satisfied
pleased because you have achieved sth or because sth has happened as you wanted it to; showing this satisfaction:
She's never satisfied with what she's got.
•
a satisfied smile
content
[not before noun] happy and satisfied with what you have:
I'm perfectly content just to lie in the sun.
contented
happy and comfortable with what you have; showing this:
a contented baby
•
a long contented sigh
content or contented?
Being contented depends more on having a comfortable life; being content can depend more on your attitude to your life: you can have to be content or learn to be content . People or animals can be contented but only people can be content .
joyful
( rather formal ) very happy; making people very happy
blissful
making people very happy; showing this happiness:
three blissful weeks away
joyful or blissful?
Joy is a livelier feeling; Bliss is more peaceful.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to be / feel happy / satisfied / content / contented / joyful / blissful
to look / seem / sound happy / satisfied / content / contented
a happy / satisfied / contented / blissful smile
a happy / joyful laugh
a happy / joyful occasion
very / perfectly happy / satisfied / content / contented with
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense lucky ): from the noun hap good fortune + -y .