joy

joy — noun

1. a very strong, pleasant feeling that you get from something good or satisfying t

1.nounA2
Definition

a very strong, pleasant feeling that you get from something good or satisfying that happens to you

Example

Élise felt pure joy when she held her newborn daughter for the first time.

collocation: pure joy

The children's faces were full of joy as they opened their presents on Christmas morning.

collocation: full of joy

Common collocations
  • pure joy
  • great joy
  • sheer joy
  • full of joy
  • tears of joy
  • shout of joy
  • wave of joy
  • burst of joy
Synonyms
  • happiness

    a more general, everyday word for feeling good; less intense than joy

  • delight

    a strong feeling of pleasure, often caused by a specific event or surprise

  • bliss

    a state of perfect happiness, stronger and more lasting than joy

Antonyms
  • sorrow

    a feeling of deep sadness, the opposite of joy in emotional weight

  • misery

    a state of great suffering or unhappiness

Grammar Patterns

joy + of + noun/-ing

joy + at/in + noun/-ing

Common Mistakes

I felt joyfulness when I saw the view.
I felt joy when I saw the view.
'joy' is the standard uncountable noun for the feeling; 'joyfulness' is less common and more formal.

2. someone or something that makes you feel very happy and gives you a lot of pleas

2.nounB1
Definition

someone or something that makes you feel very happy and gives you a lot of pleasure

Example

Imani's garden is her greatest joy — she spends hours there every weekend.

noun phrase: greatest joy

The little girl next door is a joy to have around—she is always laughing.

pattern: be a joy to

Common collocations
  • greatest joy
  • real joy
  • only joy
  • constant joy
  • a joy to see/watch/have
Synonyms
  • delight

    very similar to this sense of joy; something that gives great pleasure

  • treasure

    something or someone very precious and valued, often with emotional attachment

Grammar Patterns

joy + to + noun/-ing

be a joy to + infinitive

Usage Note

In this sense, joy is a countable noun that refers to the specific person or thing that causes happiness, not the feeling itself. It is often preceded by a possessive (her joy, his greatest joy) or by 'a' (a joy to watch).

Common Mistakes

My dog is joy for me.
My dog is a joy to me.' or 'My dog brings me joy.
when joy means 'a source of happiness', use the structure 'a joy + to/preposition' or 'brings (someone) joy'.

3. success in getting what you asked for or tried to achieve, especially when you h

3.nounB2
Definition

success in getting what you asked for or tried to achieve, especially when you have made an effort — used mainly in questions and negative statements

Example

Emre tried to book a flight but got no joy — everything was already sold out.

pattern: got no joy (informal British)

I asked the manager for a refund but had no joy—the policy had changed.

Common collocations
  • no joy
  • any joy
  • some joy
  • get joy
  • have joy
Synonyms
  • success

    the standard word for achieving a goal; broader and not restricted to questions and negatives

  • luck

    used similarly in questions ('any luck?'), but refers to chance rather than effort

Antonyms
  • failure

    the opposite of success in achieving what was attempted

Grammar Patterns

get/have no joy

have any joy

get some joy

Usage Note

This sense is most common in British English in negative contexts ('no joy') or questions ('any joy?'). It is rarely used in positive statements — you would not say 'I had joy finding it'. The subject is usually a person trying to obtain something or get something done.

Common Mistakes

I had joy completing the project on time.' (positive statement)
I managed to complete the project on time.
'joy' in this sense is almost never used in positive assertions; use 'no joy' for failure or 'any joy?' in questions.
Idioms

no joy

idiom

no success or no positive result from an attempt to get or achieve something

I called the help line twice but got no joy — both times the line was busy.

full of the joys of spring

idiom

very happy, cheerful, and full of energy

Alessia arrived at work full of the joys of spring, singing as she hung up her coat.

wish someone joy of something

idiom

used to say in a humorous or ironic way that something will be very difficult or unpleasant, so you do not envy the person who has to do it

You are taking on the accounts this year? Well, I wish you joy of that mess.

somebody’s pride and joy

idiom

A person or thing that someone is very proud of and happy about.

Maya's garden is her pride and joy; she tends it daily.

Is that old guitar still your father's pride and joy?

joy — verb

Word family

  • joyful
    adjectiveB1
  • joyfully
    adverbB1
  • joyfulness
    nounB2
  • joyous
    adjectiveB2
  • joyously
    adverbB2
  • joyousness
    nounC1
  • joyless
    adjectiveC1
  • overjoyed
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Joy, happiness, delight, pleasure, and bliss all describe positive feelings, but they differ in intensity and duration. Happiness is the broadest and most common word — it covers everyday contentment and satisfaction (e.g., 'her happiness at work came from helping others'). Joy is stronger and more intense, often linked to a specific event or moment (e.g., 'the joy of seeing a long-lost friend'). Delight is a sudden, lively pleasure caused by something unexpected (e.g., 'the child's delight at the puppy'). Pleasure is the mildest and most general, covering anything from a simple physical comfort to intellectual satisfaction (e.g., 'the pleasure of a hot bath'). Bliss is the strongest of all — a state of perfect, almost spiritual happiness that is deeper and more lasting than joy (e.g., 'the bliss of holding her newborn baby'). Choose joy when you want to emphasise a powerful, emotional high point; use happiness for everyday well-being; and save bliss for rare, transcendent moments.

happiness ↗delight ↗pleasure ↗bliss

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • for joy
  • with joy
  • jump for joy
  • shout for joy
  • weep with joy

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'joy' entered English from Old French 'joie', which itself came from Latin 'gaudia', meaning 'feelings of joy or delight'. The Latin word 'gaudium' (joy, inner happiness) belongs to a family of words related to 'gaudēre' (to rejoice or be glad). Over time, the meaning has remained very stable — the word has always referred to a strong feeling of happiness, though its use as a verb (as in 'I joy in your success') has become much rarer in modern English.