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Definition of cheerful

cheerful

/ˈtʃɪr.fəl/
cheer · ful
Adverb:cheerfully
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cheerful Lexical Profile

cheerful Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Noticeably happy, optimistic, and in good spirits.

Example

"Despite the rainy weather, the receptionist greeted every visitor with a cheerful smile."

2

Causing happiness by its bright, pleasant, or welcoming nature or appearance.

Example

"They painted the kitchen walls a cheerful yellow to brighten up the space."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for cheerful

• Nearby Words

cheeky
cheep
cheer
cheerful
cheerfully
cheerfulness
cheerily

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from 'cheer' (originally from Old French 'chiere', meaning 'face' or 'countenance', from Late Latin 'cara') plus the native suffix '-ful'. As 'cheer' evolved from referring to a facial expression to denoting a glad state of mind, 'cheerful' came to mean visibly happy and optimistic.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cheerful. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cheerful
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