cheerful

adjective

cheer·​ful ˈchir-fəl 

1

a

: full of good spirits : merry

a cheerful host

b

: ungrudging

cheerful obedience

2

: conducive to cheer : likely to dispel gloom or worry

sunny cheerful room

cheerfully

ˈchir-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

cheerfulness

ˈchir-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• blithe
• blithesome
• bright
• buoyant
• canty [British dialect]
• cheery
• chipper
• eupeptic
• gay
• gladsome
• lightsome
• sunny
• upbeat
• winsome

Examples of cheerful in a Sentence

She has a cheerful outlook on life.

He seems a little more cheerful today.

Recent Examples on the Web

In a cheerful touch, some of the displays are set off with the kind of wooden barriers commonly used to protect sand dunes. —Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2024

Each palm-sized pumpkin adds cheerful pops of color to a shelf or mantel and makes a unique centerpiece gathered in a bowl. —Nora Colomer, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2024

For a nightcap, head to the hotel’s cheerful roof deck for a spritz and sweeping views of the Newport harbor. —Vogue, 13 Sep. 2024

The playful trim and floral design add a cheerful, sophisticated touch to any bathroom—very cutesy. —Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see cheer entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

cheerful

adjective

cheer·​ful ˈchi(ə)r-fəl 

1

a

: full of good spirits

a cheerful outlook

b

: willing sense 3

cheerful obedience

2

: pleasantly bright

a sunny cheerful room

cheerfully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

cheerfulness

-fəl-nəs 

noun