What does jubilate mean?
Jubilate means to celebrate with intense happiness, often in a spontaneous and visibly enthusiastic way. It describes not merely feeling pleased but expressing joy or triumph, as when a crowd cheers a victory or supporters celebrate a long-awaited result. The word has a formal, elevated tone and is especially common in journalism, historical writing, and literary descriptions of public celebration. It is normally used intransitively, with phrases such as “jubilate over” or “jubilate at the news.” Jubilate is closely related in meaning to rejoice, celebrate, and exult, although it often conveys a particularly exuberant response. Its derivatives include the adjective jubilant, as in “a jubilant crowd,” and the noun jubilation, meaning celebration or triumphant joy.
verbTo express great happiness or triumph, especially by cheering or celebrating enthusiastically.
- To express great happiness or triumph, especially through enthusiastic celebration.
"The crowd jubilated when the underdogs won the final."
"Supporters jubilated after the decisive victory."
"She jubilated in the knowledge that her research had finally been recognized."
Jubilate belongs to the same festive family as jubilant and jubilee: all celebrate the idea of noisy, heartfelt joy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jubilate come from?
Jubilate comes through English from Latin jūbilāre, “to shout for joy” or “rejoice,” an intensive verb derived from jūbilus, meaning “joyful” or “shouting with joy.” The word was in Middle English use before its modern verb form developed in the 16th century. Its relatives include jubilant, jubilation, and jubilee, all of which reflect the same Latin association with public rejoicing.
Related word forms
How jubilate is actually used
This word is somewhat formal or literary and suggests a stronger, more public expression of joy than simply being happy. In modern usage it is normally intransitive, commonly taking at, over, or about: to jubilate at the news.