Meaning & use
happiness
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The feeling of being happy; a state of well-being and contentment.
Grammar: Uncountable, so it does not take 'a' or a plural form.
Patterns
- happiness of something
- happiness at something
- find happiness
- bring happiness to someone
Her face was full of happiness on her wedding day.
Many people believe that money cannot buy happiness.
The birth of their child brought them great happiness.
noununcountable
A feeling of pleasure or satisfaction that something is good or right.
Grammar: Often used with 'at' or 'about' to show what causes the feeling.
Patterns
- happiness at something
- happiness about something
His happiness at winning the prize was obvious.
There was a sense of happiness about the way the project turned out.
Common combinations
- true happiness
- She found true happiness in helping others.
- bring happiness
- Their kindness brought happiness to the whole neighborhood.
- pursuit of happiness
- The pursuit of happiness is a basic human right.
- happiness and contentment
- He lived a life of happiness and contentment.
- source of happiness
- Music is a constant source of happiness for me.
Synonyms and how they differ
- joy
- Often a more intense, brief feeling of great delight, while 'happiness' can be a longer-lasting state.
- contentment
- A quiet, peaceful feeling of satisfaction; 'happiness' can be more active and excited.
- well-being
- A broader term for health and comfort, not just emotional happiness.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: happiness or happy?
happiness vs happy
'Happy' is an adjective, while 'happiness' is the noun. You feel happy, but you experience happiness.
Practice
Choose the correct word: 'Her ___ was obvious to everyone.'
Choose one answer.
The noun 'happiness' is needed here as the subject of the sentence. 'Happy' is an adjective, 'happily' is an adverb, and 'happier' is a comparative adjective.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “happiness”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.