Happiness

'hæpinəs

nounBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

1

The state of being happy.

'hæpinəs

nounpositiveBeginner
General

The state of feeling pleasure and contentment.

Her ultimate goal in life is happiness.

💡 Simply: Happiness is like when you feel really good inside! Like when you get a present, play with your friends, or eat your favorite ice cream.

👶 For kids: Feeling good and glad! Like when you get a hug from your mom.

More Examples

2

The birth of her child brought her immense happiness.

3

They searched for happiness in material possessions, but found it in each other.

How It's Used

General usage

"She found happiness in helping others."

Psychology

"Studies on happiness explore factors contributing to well-being."

Literature

"The novel explores the fleeting nature of happiness."

Idioms & expressions

pursuit of happiness

The act of seeking a state of joy and contentment, often used in the context of rights or freedoms.

"The Declaration of Independence mentions the right to the pursuit of happiness."

happy-go-lucky

Characterized by a cheerful, carefree attitude.

"He's a happy-go-lucky guy who doesn't let things get him down."

From Middle English *happinesse*, from *happy* + *-ness*. Happy derives from Old Norse *happ* meaning 'luck, chance'.

The word 'happiness' has been used since the late 14th century and has consistently been used to describe feelings of joy, contentment, and well-being.

Memory tip

Imagine a person with a beaming smile, radiating joy – that's happiness!

happynesshapinesshappieness

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written