Hurray is an exclamation people shout when they're celebrating something happy or exciting. When your team scores the winning goal, you might throw your hands in the air and yell “Hurray!” When your teacher announces an unexpected field trip, a chorus of hurrays might ring out across the classroom.

The word captures pure, spontaneous joy. It's what bursts out of you when something wonderful happens: finishing a difficult project, hearing good news, or watching a friend succeed at something they've worked hard for. Hurray feels more enthusiastic and old-fashioned than simply saying “yay” or “hooray,” which mean almost the same thing.

People have been shouting some version of this word for centuries. Sailors used to shout hurray when celebrating victories at sea, and soldiers would cheer with hurrays after winning battles. Today you might hear three hurrays given for someone being honored: “Hip hip, hurray! Hip hip, hurray! Hip hip, hurray!”

The word works as a pure expression of happiness, no explanation needed. When something genuinely delightful happens, hurray says it all.