Merry is an adjective that usually describes something cheerfulshowing happiness and a positive mood, livelyfull of energy, activity, and movement, and full of good spirits. It can also describe an energeticactive and having plenty of physical or mental power, fast-moving situation, though that meaning is less common today.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈmɛri/
Easy pronunciation: MEH-ree (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Adjective meaning cheerful and full of good spirits.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Merry Meaning
cheerful and full of good spirits
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: full of or showing high-spirited merriment
Example: We had a merry time at the party.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- jolly — A natural synonym for cheerful, good-humoured behavior.
- jovial — Works well for a cheerful, friendly mood or person.
- mirthful — Matches the sense of cheerful laughter or amusement.
- gay — Can mean cheerful in older or literary use, but is less common in modern everyday English.
- jocund — Close in meaning, but more literary and less common.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Merry
Meaning 2
bringing a festive, cheerful atmosphere
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: offering fun and gaiety
Example: They planned a merry evening of music and dancing.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- festive — A strong fit when merry means party-like or celebratory.
- festal — Correct but quite formal and less common.
- gay — Can fit an old-fashioned sense of cheerful or bright.
Meaning 3
fast and lively
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: quick and energetic
Example: The dog led us on a merry chase through the park.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- brisk — Works when merry means quick and lively.
- lively — A natural substitute for energetic movement.
- snappy — Can fit a quick, sharp pace, though it is more informal.
- zippy — Good for energetic speed, but informal.
- spanking — Used in older or more idiomatic language for briskness.
- rattling — Often appears in older colloquial use meaning very lively or rapid.
- alert — Related to quickness, but less directly a synonym in this sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Merry Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- jolly
- jovial
- mirthful
cheerful, festive, and full of fun
- festive
- festal
- gay
fast and lively
- brisk
- lively
- snappy
- zippy
- spanking
- rattling
- alert
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using merry to mean only 'happy' without the stronger idea of cheerfulness or lively spirit.
- Mixing the modern sense of cheerful with the older sense meaning fast or energetic.
- Treating gay as a fully current everyday synonym in all contexts; its meaning depends on older or literary usage.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does merry mean?
Merry usually means cheerful, lively, and full of good spirits. It can also describe something festive or, in older usage, something fast and energetic.
What are some synonyms for merry?
Common synonyms include jolly, jovial, and mirthful. In a festive sense, festive works well, and in the older energetic sense, brisk or lively may fit.
Is merry the same as happy?
Not exactly. Merry is often stronger and more specific than happy, suggesting cheerfulness, laughter, or lively good spirits.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
