Synonyms of Happy (Adjective) and Happiness (Noun)

While happiness expresses the general state, there is a selection of words that describe the
conditions, origins or degree of happiness. Here’s a list of adjectives and nouns associated with
happiness.

• Satisfied / Satisfaction – Happy and satisfied with the results of something, feeling accomplished.
• Pleased / Pleasant / Pleasure – Happy and satisfied with the outcome of something. An
atmosphere that gives a sense of happiness and enjoyment.
• Glad / Gladness – Happy and pleased about something.
• Content[ed] / Contentment – Happy and satisfied with your life.
• Cheerful / Cheer – Behaving in a happy and friendly way, or a happy and friendly environment.
• Delighted / Delightful / Delight – feeling or showing great pleasure and enjoyment.
• Joyful / Joy – To be beaming with happiness. A person who is continuously laughing and energetic,
always in light and good mood. A situation that has a burst of happiness, laughter, and celebration.
• Blissful / Bliss – extremely happy, full of joy, and feeling at peace.
• Optimistic / Optimism – Hopeful and positive person.
• Euphoric / Euphoria – feeling intense excitement and happiness.
• Carefree / Carefreeness – Content, free from anxiety or responsibility.
• Exuberant / Exuberance – happy, excited, and full of energy

Fill the gaps with words from the list above.

1. The kids were delighted when they heard we were going to the zoo.
2. A: Can you help me? B: With pleasure
3. Christmas is a joyful time.
4. Bob has an optimistic attitude to life.
5. Children played cheerfully in the back yard.
6. I am quite content with my salary.
7. I had a blissful childhood, full of carefreeness
8. I derive pleasure from physical exercise. It pumps me with exuberance and zest for life
9. A: My name is Bob Bean B: Pleasure / Pleased to meet you.
10. I’ve got a whole weekend for myself and my hobby so I can read books to my heart’s content
11. They were in a state of euphoria after they won the lottery.
12. A: Thank you for a delightful evening. B: I’m glad you enjoyed it. So did I.
13. More and more people are starting to realize that material things do not bring long-lasting
contentment / content
 Common English Expressions about Happiness
1. be on top of the world
The height of happiness. When you’re on top of the world you feel wonderful, ecstatic, and elated. There’s
no way you can feel happier. Example: She’s passed her Cambridge English exam. She’s on top of the
world!

2. be on cloud nine
To be extremely happy or elated, it is often used when the feeling lasts long past the event that caused it.
Example: I’ve been on cloud nine ever since I landed my dream job.

3. happy go lucky attitude, approach

Somebody with a happy-go-lucky attitude is a generally cheerful person with little concern about the
future. They lead a stress-free life and have a calm, laidback attitude. Example: They’re easy-going and live
in the moment.
Example: He’s got a very happy-go-lucky approach to life and takes everything day by day.

4. be over the moon

Excited and delighted – in a state of great happiness.
Example: He’s over the moon about being accepted to the university.

5. grin from ear to ear

When somebody’s grinning from ear to ear, they’ve probably just received some really good news or
experienced an important life event. It describes a very wide smile and an eagerness and excitement.
Example: He was grinning from ear to ear so we knew he had good news to tell us.

6. be full of the joys of spring / summer

association with Spring reflects energy, happiness, and feeling alive. This idiom is used to show that
someone is walking around with a bounce in their step.
Example: How are you so full of the joys of spring at 6 am on a Monday morning!

7. be in good spirits, be in high spirits

Used to show that someone is in a particularly energetic and lively mood.
Example: All the children were in high spirits on the last day of school.

Use happiness expressions in English in the sentences below.

Apart from selecting the correct happiness expression, ensure the correct verb tense is selected.

1. After everyone left the party, both Alex and Carmen were IN GOOD SPIRITS
2. Two months before she gave birth to Jason, she left work feeling on CLOUD NINE / TOP OF THE
WORLD
3. He bounced into the office, FULL OF THE JOYS OF SPRING
4. When I admitted I was wrong my mother just GRINNED FROM EAR TO EAR
5. Most people see him as a HAPPY-GO-LUCKY guy without a care in the world.
6. He was over THE MOON about the ratings.
7. He’s been on CLOUD NINE / TOP OF THE WORLD ever since she agreed to marry him.