glad
glad
Pronunciation
glad /ɡlæd/
glad:
/ɡ/ - voiced velar stop
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Adjective: glad (base form), gladder (comparative), gladdest (superlative)
Verb: glad (base form), glads (3rd person singular present), gladded (past tense, past participle), gladding (present participle)
Adverb: gladly
Noun: gladness
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Feeling or showing pleasure, happiness, or contentment.
Synonyms: happy, pleased, joyful, delighted, cheerful, content, joyous
Antonyms: sad, unhappy, displeased, sorrowful, miserable, dejected, glum
Characterized by or causing joy; giving pleasure.
Synonyms: pleasing, delightful, welcome, gratifying, enjoyable, pleasant
Antonyms: unpleasant, unwelcome, disagreeable, depressing, upsetting
Verb
(Archaic or poetic) To make happy or pleased; to gladden.
Synonyms: gladden, cheer, delight, please, elate, brighten
Antonyms: sadden, displease, depress, upset, discourage
Adverb
Gladly: With pleasure or willingness.
Synonyms: willingly, cheerfully, happily, readily, eagerly, with pleasure
Antonyms: unwillingly, reluctantly, grudgingly, unwillingly
Noun
Gladness: The state or feeling of being glad; joy or pleasure.
Synonyms: happiness, joy, delight, pleasure, cheerfulness, contentment, bliss
Antonyms: sadness, sorrow, unhappiness, misery, grief, dejection
Examples of Use
Books:
"When he looked up, his wife was smiling. 'I'm so glad you're home,' she said, her voice soft with relief." (From a work of fiction, specific title not provided as it's a general example)
"He was glad for the chance to prove himself, a rare opportunity in his stifled career." (From a biographical work, specific title not provided as it's a general example)
Newspapers:
"Local residents expressed that they were glad to see the new community center finally open its doors after years of planning." (From a local newspaper article, e.g., The Daily Chronicle)
"The finance minister stated he was glad to report a stronger-than-expected economic recovery in the last quarter." (From a national newspaper, e.g., The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"We are incredibly glad to announce that our new online course on sustainable living is now available for enrollment!" (From a company's blog post, e.g., EcoSolutions Blog)
"Many readers were glad to see the popular columnist return to their usual spot after a brief hiatus." (From an online news magazine, e.g., The Atlantic Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Movies/TV Shows: "I'm glad you came. I really needed to talk to someone." (Dialogue from a dramatic film or TV series, e.g., The Crown)
Music: "Oh, I'm just a glad and simple man, doing the best that I can." (Lyrics from a folk song, specific song not provided as it's a general example)
Podcasts: "Our guest today said she was glad to share her journey with our listeners, hoping to inspire others." (From an interview podcast, e.g., The Joe Rogan Experience)
Video Games: "You found the ancient artifact! I'm glad to see it wasn't lost forever." (Dialogue from a non-player character (NPC) in a fantasy role-playing game, e.g., The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
General Public Discourse (e.g., Social Media, Conversations):
"So glad the weekend is finally here! Time to relax." (Social media post, e.g., Twitter/X or Facebook)
"I'm glad we decided to take the scenic route; the views were amazing." (Personal conversation)
"Are you glad about the new policy changes?" (Question posed in a public forum or discussion)
"I was so glad to hear your good news!" (Text message or email to a friend)
10 Famous Quotes Using Glad
"I'm glad I did it, partly because it was a good thing, but partly because I'm just glad I did something." (Maya Angelou, Gather Together in My Name)
"I am glad I am not a man, for I should be obliged to marry a woman." (Madame de Staël)
"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." (Audrey Hepburn, often misattributed as using "glad" in a similar context, but still a widely known quote expressing a similar sentiment of joy in connection)
"You'll be glad you did." (Common motivational saying, origin unknown but widely used in self-help and advertising)
"I'm glad I'm not a politician, because I'd have to shake hands with everyone, and I'd be all dirty." (Attributed to Andy Warhol, expressing a personal preference)
"We are so glad to have him back on the team." (Often heard in sports commentaries or team announcements, e.g., a coach speaking about a returning player)
"I was glad to have a chance to explore a different part of the world." (From a travel memoir, specific source not cited as it's a general example of a common sentiment)
"It is a great joy to be alive, and to be glad for every moment of it." (Lesser-known philosophical quote, often found in New Age or mindfulness texts, specific author not consistently attributed)
"I'm glad that I can still surprise myself." (A quote reflecting personal growth, often attributed to various artists or creators)
"Let's be glad for what we have, not sad for what we lack." (Proverbial saying, widely used to encourage gratitude)
Etymology
The word "glad" has a really interesting history that goes way back!
It comes from an Old English word, "glæd" (pronounced somewhat like "glad" with a slightly longer 'a' sound). When it was first used in Old English (before 1150 AD), it had a few meanings. It meant "bright, shining, or gleaming," but also "joyous, cheerful, pleasant, or gracious." So, imagine something that's bright and happy at the same time!
This Old English "glæd" then came from an even older language called Proto-Germanic, where the word was "*gladaz". This ancient Germanic word also had that double meaning of "bright, shiny" and "happy, cheerful." Think of how a bright, sunny day can make you feel cheerful!
If you go back even further, some language experts believe that "*gladaz" might have come from a much older, reconstructed language called Proto-Indo-European, specifically from a root that meant "to shine." This connection makes a lot of sense when you consider how "bright" and "happy" were linked in the earliest uses of "glad."
So, in short, "glad" originally meant something like "brightly happy" or "shining with joy," and its roots stretch back through the Germanic languages to a very ancient word meaning "to shine."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Glad
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "glad," or featuring synonyms for a similar effect:
Glad tidings: Good news.
Glad hand: A warm welcome or friendly reception, often implying a superficial or insincere friendliness.
To make someone glad: To cause someone to feel happy.
Glad to meet you: A common polite greeting upon introduction.
Glad rags: (Older idiom) Fancy clothes worn for a special occasion.
To be glad of something: To be pleased about having something or that something happened.
Glad all over: To be extremely happy and joyful.
Happy as a clam: (Using a synonym) Very happy and contented.
Overjoyed to bits: (Using a synonym) Extremely happy.
Pleased as punch: (Using a synonym) Very pleased or delighted.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of glad from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
