rejoicing

rejoicing — noun

1. strong shared happiness that people show openly when something very good has hap

1.nounB2
Definition

strong shared happiness that people show openly when something very good has happened.

Example

There was great rejoicing among the villagers when the new school finally opened.

uncountable: 'great rejoicing'

Yumi could not hide her rejoicing after learning she had passed the bar exam.

Common collocations
  • great rejoicing
  • wild rejoicing
  • universal rejoicing
  • cause for rejoicing
  • sparked rejoicing
  • rejoicing at the news
Synonyms
  • joy

    broader term; can be internal and quiet, while rejoicing tends to be shown outwardly

  • elation

    suggests a more excited, energetic happiness than rejoicing

  • exultation

    more formal and stronger; implies triumphant, vocal joy

Antonyms
  • sorrow

    deep sadness, the emotional opposite of rejoicing

  • mourning

    public expression of grief, opposite of rejoicing

Grammar Patterns

rejoicing + at/over + noun phrase

rejoicing + among + group

Usage Note

Usually uncountable. Refers to the shared feeling of happiness itself rather than a planned event. Common with 'great', 'wild', and 'universal' as modifiers.

Common Mistakes

There was a rejoicing when the team won.
There was rejoicing when the team won.
In the general 'feeling' sense, 'rejoicing' is uncountable and does not take 'a'.
Everyone rejoicing at the news.
Everyone was rejoicing at the news.
'rejoicing' as a noun takes a verb; as a verb form it needs an auxiliary.

2. a public event or activity where people celebrate something good by cheering, si

2.nounB2
Definition

a public event or activity where people celebrate something good by cheering, singing, dancing, or similar joyful displays.

Example

Loud rejoicings erupted from the stadium when the home team scored in the final minute.

countable plural: 'rejoicings erupted'

Lucía's rejoicing included a colourful parade with children dancing through the decorated streets.

Common collocations
  • loud rejoicings
  • public rejoicings
  • rejoicings erupted
  • rejoicings broke out
  • three days of rejoicing
  • midnight rejoicings
Synonyms
  • celebration

    broader and more common; all rejoicings are celebrations, but not all celebrations are rejoicings

  • festivity

    focuses on the cheerful, often traditional activities of a public event

  • merriment

    laughter and good cheer, usually on a smaller scale than rejoicings

Antonyms
  • lamentation

    public expression of grief, opposed to public rejoicing

Grammar Patterns

rejoicings + of/in + noun phrase

rejoicings + broke out / took place

Usage Note

Countable when referring to specific public events or displays of joy. Often appears in the plural form 'rejoicings'. The uncountable form (sense 1) is more common in everyday use.

Word family

  • rejoice
    verbB2
  • rejoicingly
    adverbC2
  • joy
    nounA2
  • joyful
    adjectiveB1
  • joyous
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five describe happiness, but they differ in how the happiness is shown or felt. 'Rejoicing' is the most outward-facing — it names the happiness people can see or hear (cheers, tears, hugs). 'Joy' is broader and can be a quiet, internal feeling. 'Elation' describes a stronger, more excited happiness, usually triggered by a specific success or honour. 'Exultation' is more formal and suggests triumphant, almost boastful joy. 'Celebration' focuses on the actions or events that mark a happy occasion. For example: 'Lucía felt quiet joy as she watched the sunrise, but her rejoicing at the award ceremony was so loud that the whole room joined in the celebration.'

rejoicing ↗joy ↗elation ↗exultationcelebration ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • cause for rejoicing
  • time of rejoicing
  • rejoicing in the streets
  • there was great rejoicing

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Forms from the verb 'rejoice', which entered English in the 1200s through Old French 'rejoir' — made from 're-' (meaning 'again' or used as an intensifier) plus 'joir' (to be glad, to enjoy). The French verb came from the Latin 'gaudēre' (to rejoice, be glad). The suffix '-ing' turns the verb into a noun naming the action or feeling. The historical path from Latin 'gaudēre' to modern English 'rejoicing' tracks the idea of happiness that is experienced strongly and openly.