happy

[[t]hæ̱pi[/t]]

♦♦

happier, happiest

1) ADJ-GRADED Someone who is happy has feelings of pleasure, usually because something nice has happened or because they feel satisfied with their life.

Marina was a confident, happy child...

I'm just happy to be back running...

Her face relaxed into a happy smile.

Derived words:

happily ADV-GRADED usu ADV with v

Albert leaned back happily and lit a cigarette.

happiness N-UNCOUNT

I think mostly she was looking for happiness.

2) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A happy time, place, or relationship is full of happy feelings and pleasant experiences, or has an atmosphere in which people feel happy.

Except for her illnesses, she had had a particularly happy childhood...

It had always been a happy place...

We have a very happy marriage.

3) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ, ADJ about/with n/-ing, ADJ that, ADJ to-inf If you are happy about a situation or arrangement, you are satisfied with it, for example because you think that something is being done in the right way.

If you are not happy about a repair, go back and complain...

He's happy that I deal with it myself...

When he got old he was really quite happy to let the department run itself.

4) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ to-inf If you say you are happy to do something, you mean that you are very willing to do it.

I'll be happy to answer any questions if there are any...

That's a risk I'm happy to take.

Derived words:

happily ADV-GRADED ADV with v

If I've caused any offence over something I have written, I will happily apologise.

5) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n Happy is used in greetings and other conventional expressions to say that you hope someone will enjoy a special occasion.

many happy returns → see return

Happy Birthday!...

Happy Easter!

6) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n A happy coincidence is one that results in something pleasant happening.

By happy coincidence, Robert met Richard and Julia and discovered they were experiencing similar problems.