jolly Hear it!

jolly Definition

jolly (jälē)

adjective -·lier, -·li·est

  1. full of high spirits and good humor; merry
  2. Informal enjoyable; pleasant

Etymology: ME joli < OFr, prob. < ON jol, yule

adverb -·lier, -·li·est

Brit., Informal very; altogether

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·lied, -·ly·ing

☆ to try to make (a person) feel good or agreeable, as by coaxing or flattering: often with along

noun pl. -·lies

Brit., Informal a British marine

jolly Related Forms
jol·lily adverb jol·li·ness noun
jolly Idioms

get one's jollies

Slang to have fun or get pleasure; often, specif., from that which is cheap or disreputable

jolly Synonyms

jolly

modif.

  1. Cheerful

    jovial, merry, joyful; see happy 1, 2.

  2. Festive

    convivial, enjoyable, holidayish*; see entertaining, pleasant 2.

jolly Usage Examples

Adjective complement

  • nice: Which, when you get right down to it, is jolly nice of them.
  • good: I am glad you enjoyed the Book of Artemas - jolly good I think.
  • useful: These are ' the spirits of the woods ' , and jolly useful they can be too!

Used with adjective complement

    Modifies a noun

    • jape: Now thats cleared up, i'm off around the world for jolly japes.
    • jaunt: To cheer themselves up the group go on a jolly jaunt to a local fairground.
    • romp: Against all odds, Sky Captain is much more: a glorious visual treat and a jolly good romp.
    • chap: Jolly good chaps, lets go fight in the mountains of Afghanistan.
    • wheeze: If writing games is such a jolly wheeze why is playing them so moronic?
    • workbook: Anyway, we did writing practice in a jolly phonics workbook.

    Followed by a transitive particle

    • up: A little more pace in the proceedings would have helped to jolly up the first half up especially.

    Used with why or when

    • when: But singing myself hoarse and trying to be jolly when I really don't enjoy it, doesn't wash.

    Modifying Another Word

    • awfully: Goodbye my love, now - I wish you had been here last night we had an awfully jolly evening.
    • rather: I have finished my border off with a rather jolly dragon.
    • well: In fact we might have to jolly well rope a bit off next time, to make sure we get a match at all.
    • very: After the service a very jolly ' tea ' party was held in the Village Hall which was much enjoyed by all who attended.
    • quite: Would definitely see them again, quite jolly almost reaching the heady heights of happy in some songs.
    • generally: January isn't generally jolly, but it's already looking as if jelly is the thing this month.

    Followed by an intransitive particle

    • along: Cracks about Bush, Blair and the Hutton Report coming quick and hard, jollied along by Thomas's cheery demeanor.
    • up: Our mission for today was a sightseeing jolly up into the Waterfall Series, with the formations of 6th Heaven our ultimate aim.
jolly Quotes

Any man may be in good spirits and good temper when he's well dressed. There an't much credit in that. If I was very ragged and very jolly, then I should begin to feel I had gained a point, Mr. Pinch.

—Dickens, CharlesJohn Huffam

Browse dictionary entries near jolly

  1. jollity
  2. jollify
  3. Joliot-Curie
  4. Joliet
  5. jolie laide
  6. Jokjakarta
  7. jokingly
  8. joking
  9. jokey
  10. jokester
  1. jolly boat
  2. Jolly Roger
  3. Jolo
  4. jolt
  5. Jonah
  6. Jonah crab
  7. Jonathan
  8. jones
  9. jongleur
  10. Jonquière