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adj. glad·der, glad·dest 1. a. Experiencing or exhibiting joy and pleasure. b. Appreciative: was glad to be home. 2. Providing joy and pleasure: a glad occasion. 3. Very willing; pleased: glad to help. tr. & intr.v. glad·ded, glad·ding, glads Archaic To gladden. gladly adv. gladness n. Synonyms: glad1, happy, cheerful, lighthearted, joyful, joyous These adjectives mean being in or showing good spirits. Glad often refers to the feeling that results from the gratification of a wish or from satisfaction with immediate circumstances: "They were smiling, lifting their hands to me, glad to be together, glad to see me" (Wendell Berry). Happy applies to a feeling of pleasure, satisfaction, or joy: "Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so" (John Stuart Mill). Cheerful suggests characteristic good spirits: a cheerful volunteer. Lighthearted stresses the absence of care: "We knew that things were hard for our Bohemian neighbors, but the two girls were lighthearted and never complained" (Willa Cather). Joyful and joyous suggest lively, often exultant happiness: a joyful heart; joyous laughter. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. Botany A gladiolus. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
