glee

noun

ˈglē How to pronounce glee (audio)
Synonyms of glee
1
: exultant high-spirited joy : merriment
dancing with glee
2
: a part-song for usually male voices

Synonyms of glee

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Examples of glee in a Sentence

They were dancing with glee. He could hardly contain his glee over his victory.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The next day, JT showed a snippet of his viral cameo that had everyone and their mother throwing up their phones in glee. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026 Other, less cartoonish responses have lingered on Cambridge’s comparable glee in brandishing Arday in the first place. — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026 His earlier display of emotion made the song’s meaning hit even harder — and as the crowd erupted into jumps and shouts of glee, Smith stood there, a grin growing on his lipsticked mouth. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 That doesn’t make the games any less competitive — or physical — but a childlike glee underscores every aspect of those hoop sessions. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for glee

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English glēo entertainment, music; akin to Old Norse glȳ joy, and perhaps to Greek chleuē joke

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of glee was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing glee

Rhymes for glee

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Browse Nearby Words

Gleditsia
glee
glee club
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Cite this Entry

“Glee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glee. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

glee

noun
ˈglē How to pronounce glee (audio)
1
: high-spirited joy
2
: an unaccompanied song for three or more voices
gleeful
-fəl
adjective
gleefully
-fə-lē
adverb
gleefulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on glee

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about glee

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