Emotions / A2

JOY/dʒɔɪ/

Joy is great happiness: a cry of joy, filled with joy, the joy of winning. Happiness is a close everyday cousin; joy is often stronger or more sudden. Enjoy is the verb (I enjoy tennis), not “I joy tennis”. Joyful is the adjective. Uncountable in many uses (not “a joy” except in “it is a joy to…”).

Meaning

A feeling of great happiness.

Examples

• “The news filled her with joy.”
• “There was joy in the classroom when the trip was announced.”
• “The birth of the puppy filled them with joy.”

Good to know

filled with joy / a cry of joy. Cousin: happiness. Verb: enjoy. Adjective: joyful.

Near in meaning

happiness

Topics

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