glad
/ɡlæd/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Happy or pleased about something. It can also mean feeling relief or gratitude.
- I'm glad you came.
- She was glad to hear the news.
- We were glad for the help.
Adinary Nuance
Glad is a simple, warm word for feeling pleased. It is less strong and less formal than delighted, and more natural than ecstatic in everyday speech. Writers often use glad for polite, friendly reactions, not big excitement.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vui
- Spanish
- contento
- Chinese
- 高兴
- Japanese
- うれしい
- Korean
- 기쁜
Etymology
From Old English glæd, meaning “bright,” “cheerful,” or “shining.” The meaning later developed into “happy” or “pleased.”
Common phrases
glad to helpglad to see youglad aboutglad news
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is glad formal or informal?
- Glad is neutral and common in both speech and writing.
- What is the difference between glad and happy?
- Glad often means pleased about one thing. Happy is broader and can describe a general mood.
- Can I say 'I am glad to hear that'?
- Yes. It is a very natural and polite phrase.