adj. hap·pi·er, hap·pi·est 1. Enjoying, showing, or marked by pleasure, satisfaction, or joy: a happy child; the happiest day of my life. See Synonyms at glad. 2. Cheerful; willing: happy to help. 4. Being especially well-adapted; felicitous: a happy turn of phrase. 5. a. Characterized by a spontaneous or obsessive inclination to use something. Often used in combination: trigger-happy. b. Enthusiastic about or involved with to a disproportionate degree. Often used in combination: money-happy; clothes-happy. [Middle English, from hap, luck; see HAP.] happi·ly adv. happi·ness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.