cheerful

1 of 2

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

cheerfulness

2 of 2

noun

cheer·​ful·​ness ˈchir-fəl-nəs 

plural -es

: the quality or state of being cheerful

Synonyms of cheerful

Adjective

• bright
• optimistic
• cheery
• sunny
• upbeat
• smiling
• buoyant

Examples of cheerful in a Sentence

Adjective

She has a cheerful outlook on life.

He seems a little more cheerful today.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In the past, Cooper has had an active online life, a cheerful and talkative presence behind his thick black beard. — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 8 Oct. 2026

The rooms, which are decorated with wood and natural fibers, are set back from two miles of stunning Montego Bay beachfront and contain an impressive number of cheerful works of art by Jamaican artists. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

But the film hardly even merits such empty pastiche, and there’s little else to distinguish it from much cheap-and-cheerful streaming fodder in this genre space. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

In Phoenix, there was an energetic and cheerful young man by the name of Craig Wismer. — Lauren Weiner, Baltimore Sun, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see cheer entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Rhymes for cheerful

• fearful
• tearful

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