What does overjoyed mean?
Overjoyed describes someone who is extremely happy because of particularly good news or a happy event. It is stronger than pleased, happy, or delighted, suggesting a degree of delight that feels exceptional or overflowing. The word is used for personal reactions as well as for people who are visibly delighted: a parent may be overjoyed at a child's achievement, or a performer may be overjoyed by an enthusiastic reception. Its intensifying force makes it especially suitable for memorable moments, but repeated use can sound emotional or slightly literary compared with everyday words such as thrilled or delighted. Although overjoyed is related in meaning to ecstatic and elated, it is generally less formal and more conversational. In British and American English, it is used in broadly the same way, with the pronunciation differing mainly in the treatment of the initial vowel.
adjectiveExtremely happy or delighted, especially as a result of welcome news or a happy event. It conveys a degree of joy that is greater than ordinary satisfaction or pleasure.
- Extremely happy or delighted, especially as a result of welcome news or a happy event.
"She was overjoyed when she learned that her brother had returned safely."
"The children were overjoyed when they received the puppy they had wanted."
"He was overjoyed at the news that the project had been approved."
Overjoyed is happiness turned up to maximum volume: not simply pleased, but thrilled by the best possible news.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does overjoyed come from?
Overjoyed combines the English prefix over- with joy and the participial ending -ed, literally suggesting joy that exceeds the ordinary measure. The formation reflects a wider English pattern in which over- intensifies an emotional or evaluative term. Its related words, including enjoy, joyful, and rejoice, belong to the same broader lexical family associated with Latin gaudere, “to rejoice,” through medieval French and English.
How overjoyed is actually used
Overjoyed is a strongly positive adjective used in both formal and informal contexts. It is more intense than happy, pleased, or delighted and is especially common when describing a reaction to good news, a reunion, or an unexpected success.
Easily confused with overjoyed
Enjoyed means that someone took pleasure in an experience, whereas overjoyed means that someone was extremely delighted, often because of especially good news.