Meaning & use
rejoice in
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Meanings
phrasephrasal verb
To feel or show great joy because of something.
Grammar: Takes an object after 'in': rejoice in something. The object is often a noun or an -ing form.
Patterns
- rejoice in something
- rejoice in doing something
The whole village rejoiced in the news of the safe return of the missing children.
She rejoiced in her daughter's success at the piano competition.
We rejoiced in seeing the first flowers of spring after the long winter.
phrasephrasal verb
To take great pleasure or pride in a particular quality or possession.
Grammar: Often used with abstract nouns like 'freedom', 'good health', or 'the name'. It suggests a lasting source of joy.
Patterns
- rejoice in something
The small nation rejoices in its hard-won independence.
He rejoices in the simple pleasures of country life.
They rejoice in their children's good health.
Word forms
| third person singular | rejoices in |
|---|---|
| past tense | rejoiced in |
| past participle | rejoiced in |
| -ing form | rejoicing in |
Common combinations
- rejoice in the Lord
- The congregation rejoiced in the Lord during the service.
- rejoice in someone's success
- True friends rejoice in your success without jealousy.
- rejoice in the fact that
- We rejoice in the fact that no one was hurt in the accident.
- rejoice in freedom
- After years of struggle, the people rejoiced in their newfound freedom.
Synonyms and how they differ
- delight in
- Delight in is slightly less formal and often suggests ongoing enjoyment of something, while rejoice in is more often about a specific event or state.
- revel in
- Revel in emphasizes taking noisy or energetic pleasure in something, often an attention or a situation, whereas rejoice in is more about inner joy.
- celebrate
- Celebrate usually involves an action or event to mark a happy occasion, while rejoice in focuses on the feeling itself.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: rejoice in or enjoy?
rejoice in vs enjoy
Enjoy is much more common and general; it means to get pleasure from something. Rejoice in is stronger and more formal, often used for big, emotional events.
Practice
Complete the sentence: The fans ______ the team's victory with songs and cheers.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'rejoice in something', meaning to feel great joy because of it. 'Rejoiced at' is sometimes used but is less standard; 'rejoice in' is the correct collocation here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rejoice in”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.