Definition

1. Noun:
   • The state or quality of being cheerful, joyful, or full of lively enjoyment and laughter. It refers to a feeling or atmosphere of lighthearted fun and amusement.
   • Activities, behavior, or sounds characterized by cheerfulness and fun. It can refer to the observable expression of joy, such as laughter and celebration.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The sounds of laughter and merriment filled the room during the party.
  • The festival was a time of great joy and merriment for the entire village.
  • Despite the rain, their spirits were high, and the evening continued with much merriment.

Advanced Usage

• "To make merriment": To celebrate joyfully or to engage in fun activities.
  • The villagers gathered to make merriment after the successful harvest.
• "Full of merriment": Describing a person, place, or event that is exceptionally cheerful and fun.
  • His full-of-merriment personality made him the life of every party.

Variants and Related Words

• Merry (adj): Cheerful and lively.
  • They were in a merry mood all evening.
• Merrily (adv): In a cheerful and lively way.
  • The children skipped merrily down the path.

Synonyms

• Jollity: Lively and cheerful activity or celebration.
• Gaiety: The state or quality of being lighthearted and cheerful.
• Revelry: Lively and noisy festivities, especially involving drinking and dancing.
• Joviality: The quality of being cheerful and friendly.

Antonyms

• Gloom: A state of partial or total darkness; a state of depression or despondency.
• Melancholy: A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.
• Solemnity: The state or quality of being serious and dignified.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Eat, drink, and be merry": An idiom encouraging one to enjoy life's pleasures, often without worrying about the future.
  • It's a holiday! Let's eat, drink, and be merry!

Noun

1. activities that are enjoyable or amusing
   • I do it for the fun of it
   • he is fun to have around
2. a gay feeling