glad

1 of 3

adjective

gladder; gladdest
1
a
: experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight : made happy
b
: very willing
glad to do it
c
: made pleased, satisfied, or grateful
often used with of
was glad of their help
2
a
: marked by, expressive of, or caused by happiness and joy
a glad shout
b
: causing happiness and joy : pleasant
glad tidings
3
: full of brightness and cheerfulness
a glad spring morning
4
archaic : having a cheerful or happy disposition by nature
gladly adverb
gladness noun

glad

2 of 3

verb

gladded; gladding
archaic

glad

3 of 3

noun

Examples of glad in a Sentence

Adjective We're glad you could come. I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have. The mail brought glad news from our friends in England. We've been through some sad times and some glad times. Verb it hath gladded my heart to see thy face again
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Early announcements were for a film starring Harrison Ford as Stanton, but ultimately, the author is glad the movie version never happened. Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Possibly, too, some are glad to have a break from their husbands. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Taxpayers who are checking their refund status are probably glad to see one number moving up this week: the average tax refund. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Meier appears glad to be back on the West Coast, arriving in town to enjoy a bit of the mild California weather before the next rainstorm arrives. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 Kelly Rowland is glad her erotic thriller Mea Culpa is leaving a mark on viewers. Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024 The predatory nature of these killer whales has ocean enthusiasts like Roop torn – sad to see the dolphins slaughtered but glad the orcas are hanging around for up-close, intimate encounters. Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Mohammad was glad the civilians at the Guoanbu had flagged the transaction, as opposed to their counterparts in the People’s Liberation Army security services. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 8 Feb. 2024 Miss Manners is glad to hear that you have been spared. Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2024
Noun
His latest project is the Temple Grove, a wildly beautiful corner of the garden in a glads of high trees. Town & Country, 28 Apr. 2023 Neither glads nor dahlias are fussy about starting soil. Jeff Lowenfels | Alaska Gardening and Growing, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Mar. 2023 Plant a few more glads. Jeff Lowenfels | Alaska Gardening and Growing, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Mar. 2023 Flowering plants, including glads, aren’t treasured for their leaves. oregonlive, 14 Mar. 2020 Wow, what a year for flowers: peonies, dahlias, glads, ligularias — and most others for that matter. Jeff Lowenfels, Alaska Dispatch News, 4 Aug. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English, shining, glad, from Old English glæd; akin to Old High German glat shining, smooth, Latin glaber smooth, bald

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glad was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near glad

Cite this Entry

“Glad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glad. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

glad

adjective
ˈglad
gladder; gladdest
1
a
: experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight : made happy
glad things turned out well
b
: made pleased, satisfied, or grateful
was glad of their help
c
: very willing
glad to do it
2
a
: marked by, expressive of, or caused by happiness
a glad shout
b
: causing happiness and joy : pleasant
glad tidings
3
: full of brightness and cheerfulness
a glad spring morning
gladly adverb
gladness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on glad

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!