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gleeful

/ˈglifəl/
IPA guide

If you're gleeful, you're delighted or joyful. The sound of children's gleeful laughter is one sign of a successful birthday party.

When you feel gleeful, you're more than happy: you're exuberant and joyous. A friend's gleeful face tells you she's gotten great news or heard a hilarious joke, and gleeful kids will sometimes even scream with joy. In the 17th century, the alternate adjective gleesome competed with gleeful — both come from an Old English root, gliu, which means "mirth, play, sport," and also "music" and "mockery."

Definitions of gleeful
  1. adjective
    full of high-spirited delight
    synonyms: elated, joyful, jubilant
    joyous
    full of or characterized by joy
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