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.
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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.
Detractors attacked the moment with glee, but that viewpoint ends up being shortsighted. — Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026 The prospect of a flagship GOP state turning blue doesn't just fill Democrats with glee and Republicans with alarm. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 The glee with which some commentators reported on this was a little mystifying to me. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026 Privately, the Kremlin leader must be rubbing his hands with glee. — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 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 19 Oct. 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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