Joyous means full of great happiness and delight. When something is joyous, it overflows with joy in a way that's hard to contain. A joyous celebration might include laughter, hugging, and people grinning so wide their cheeks hurt. A joyous reunion happens when family members who haven't seen each other in years finally come together again.

The word suggests something more powerful than simply being happy or pleased. You might be happy about getting a good grade, but you feel joyous when your team wins the championship after a season of hard work. A birthday party might be fun, but a joyous occasion fills everyone present with an almost bubbling sense of delight and gratitude.

You'll often find joyous describing events, occasions, or moments rather than objects: a joyous wedding, a joyous holiday gathering, or the joyous noise of children playing. When someone has a joyous expression on their face, you can see their happiness radiating outward. The word captures those special times when happiness doesn't just sit quietly inside you but bursts forth and touches everyone around you.