happiness
/ˈhæp.i.nəs/ IELTSAcademic
noun
a feeling of pleasure, contentment, and well-being. It can also mean a state of being happy.
- Her happiness was easy to see.
- Money does not always bring happiness.
- He wished her a life of happiness.
Adinary Nuance
Happiness is the general word for feeling good about life or a situation. It is wider and more lasting than joy, which is often stronger and more sudden. It is also more abstract than pleasure, which usually means a specific enjoyable feeling or activity.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hạnh phúc
- Spanish
- felicidad
- Chinese
- 幸福
- Japanese
- 幸福
- Korean
- 행복
Etymology
From happy + -ness. The word has been used in English since the Middle Ages, with the abstract noun ending -ness added to describe the state of being happy.
Common phrases
find happinesstrue happinesshappiness and well-beingpursuit of happiness
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is happiness countable or uncountable?
- It is usually uncountable. We say "happiness" in general, not "a happiness."
- What is the difference between happiness and joy?
- Happiness is broader and calmer. Joy is often stronger and more intense.
- Can I use happiness in formal writing?
- Yes. It is common in essays, reports, and academic writing.
- How do I use happiness in a sentence?
- You can say: "Her happiness matters to me."