Wordul · all words

adjective · 2 syllables · /'dʒɒl.i/

JOLLY

What does "JOLLY" mean?

Happy and cheerful in a lively, good-natured way.

Meanings

  1. Full of cheer and high spirits; merry. The party host was a jolly man with a booming laugh.
  2. Very; extremely (chiefly British informal). That was a jolly good dinner, thank you. informal
  3. To keep someone in a good mood, or coax them along pleasantly. She jollied the nervous children through their first day. informal

Word origin

From Old French 'jolif' ('festive, pretty, lively'), of uncertain further origin - possibly linked to a Norse word for the midwinter 'Yule' festival.

Remember it

JOLLY rhymes with 'holly' - picture a holly-decked, red-cheeked figure laughing through the cold.

A little poem

He laughs the kettle warm, the dull room bright-
and leaves a little jolly in the night.

couplet

Wordplay

  • Why did the pirate stay so cheerful? He always kept his spirits up - and his flag was jolly.

What it teaches

Good cheer is a quiet kind of generosity: it warms a room without ever sending a bill.

Quick facts

What does JOLLY mean?

Happy and cheerful in a lively, good-natured way.

Is JOLLY a valid word?

Yes — JOLLY is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.

How many letters is JOLLY?

JOLLY has 5 letters and 2 syllables.

Where does JOLLY come from?

From Old French 'jolif' ('festive, pretty, lively'), of uncertain further origin - possibly linked to a Norse word for the midwinter 'Yule' festival.

What can JOLLY teach us?

Good cheer is a quiet kind of generosity: it warms a room without ever sending a bill.

How players do

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