Skip to main content
gaiety

gaiety

4 6.6
A feeling of cheerful fun and lively excitement
  • noun
  • /ˈɡeɪ.ə.ti/
translation icon : alegría
  • Yet amid the gaiety of these preparations, a troubling question looms: How can we deal with Hanukkah?

She remembered laughter, the singing and gaiety.

Examples

  • The gaiety and splendour of Madrid and the court.

  • I couldn't hear the songs, but the gaiety was catching.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • "Really?" There was an air of gaiety in her question.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Sea air, sunshine, gaiety, girls.

  • The officers, in particular, had a winter of gaiety in the largest and most sophisticated city of North America.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Such a moment called for gaiety, not grotesquery.

    Academic text (2010)
  • All my life I've dreamed of that, the gaiety and color and people.

  • He was only a dog but he filled our lives with joy and gaiety.

  • I think you know Mr. Flusky, that Mrs. Rigg is very partial to a life of gaiety.

  • The festival was filled with gaiety, and everyone danced joyfully around the bonfire.

Synonyms

joy
vsgaiety
793 1.0

A strong feeling of great happiness

is the lively social atmosphere of fun rather than solitary happiness
excitement
vsgaiety
434 1.0

A strong feeling of happiness and eagerness, or something that causes it

focuses on the happy lively atmosphere rather than intense personal feeling
enthusiasm
vsgaiety
288 2.2

A strong feeling of excitement and interest in something

is less goal-directed, focusing on an atmosphere of lively fun
exuberance
vsgaiety
27 6.7

A feeling of strong, happy energy and excitement

is similar but focuses more on a pleasant lively atmosphere than sheer energy
exhilaration
vsgaiety
17 5.8

A strong, happy feeling of excitement

is milder, naming a general cheerful lively mood rather than intense thrill
merriment
vsgaiety
14 3.4

A time of happy laughter and fun at a party or celebration

is the wider atmosphere of lively fun rather than specific amusement
jubilation
vsgaiety
11 5.2

A strong feeling of happiness and excitement during a celebration

is the ongoing cheerful lively mood, not only celebration moments
gladness
vsgaiety
9 1.0

A feeling of being happy and pleased

is more specific to lively fun and excited social atmosphere
playfulness
vsgaiety
8 2.5

Being ready to play and have fun

is about the general cheerful lively atmosphere rather than playful behavior
joie de vivre
vsgaiety
7 9.6

A feeling of great joy and energy about life

is narrower, pointing to a particular cheerful lively atmosphere rather than life attitude
cheerfulness
vsgaiety
4 1.0

A happy mood that makes you smile and helps others feel good

is more lively and active, emphasizing joyous excitement rather than calm happiness
conviviality
vsgaiety
2 8.0

A friendly, lively atmosphere that makes people enjoy being together

covers general lively fun not only social or group settings
ebullience
vsgaiety
1 8.5

A feeling of cheerful, lively energy that people show

is less about energetic burst and more about sustained cheerful atmosphere
jollity
vsgaiety
1 7.5

A cheerful, lively feeling that people show when they enjoy themselves

is broader, naming a general cheerful atmosphere rather than specific merriment
jolliness
vsgaiety
1 2.7

A happy, lively feeling that makes people smile

is more about the overall lively atmosphere than personal good humor
jubilance
vsgaiety
1 6.5

A strong feeling of great joy that people show openly

is lighter, referring to a cheerful lively atmosphere rather than intense joy
joyousness
vsgaiety
1 3.0

A strong feeling of great happiness

is more about cheerful lively fun than deep or lasting joy
festiveness
vsgaiety
2.9

A cheerful, lively feeling at a party or festival

is general lively fun, not limited to festivals or formal celebrations
jubilancy
vsgaiety
8.1

A strong feeling of great joy after success

is broader and more social, not focused on triumph or victory
joyance
vsgaiety
  • Archaic
9.9

Great happiness and lively celebration with singing and dancing

is the everyday lively cheerful mood rather than literary celebration
gleefulness
vsgaiety
3.5

A strong feeling of happy excitement that makes you smile

is broader, describing the surrounding cheerful lively mood rather than singular joy
gladsomeness
vsgaiety
  • Archaic
8.9

A feeling of great happiness and pleasure

focuses on the shared lively fun atmosphere rather than inner pleasure
blitheness
vsgaiety
8.6

A happy, carefree feeling that makes people cheerful

is about lively social fun rather than personal carefreeness
jolly atmosphere
vsgaiety
3.7

A cheerful, lively feeling that makes people enjoy themselves

is the same general lively atmosphere but stated as a broader feeling rather than place

Antonyms

229 1.0

A feeling of being unhappy

20 3.6

Low light or darkness that makes a place feel sad

How Cheerful

jubilation
11 5.2
exuberance
27 6.7
gaiety
4 6.6
merriment
14 3.4
cheerfulness
4 1.0

Surface Forms

gaiety singular
gaieties plural
gayeties plural
gayety singular

Morphology

gaiety = gay (semi-transparent) = gay + ety

Meaning is the state of being 'gay' (cheerful) and is derivable, but the spelling 'gaiety' (gai-) differs from 'gay' and may confuse learners.

Etymology

The word gaiety comes from an old French word gai meaning 'merry' or 'happy', and it is the same root as the English word gay. So gaiety refers to the feeling or look of being cheerful and full of lively fun.