HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

glad¹

(glăd)

adj. glad·der, glad·dest

a. Experiencing or exhibiting joy and pleasure.

b. Appreciative: was glad to be home.

2. Providing joy and pleasure: a glad occasion.

3. Very willing; pleased: glad to help.

tr. & intr.v. glad·ded, glad·ding, glads
Archaic

To gladden.

[Middle English, from Old English glæd; see ghel-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

gladly adv.

gladness n.

Synonyms: glad¹, happy, cheerful, lighthearted, joyful, joyous
These adjectives mean being in or showing good spirits. Glad often refers to the feeling that results from the gratification of a wish or from satisfaction with immediate circumstances: "They were smiling, lifting their hands to me, glad to be together, glad to see me" (Wendell Berry).
Happy applies to a feeling of pleasure, satisfaction, or joy: "Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so" (John Stuart Mill).
Cheerful suggests characteristic good spirits: a cheerful volunteer.
Lighthearted stresses the absence of care: "We knew that things were hard for our Bohemian neighbors, but the two girls were lighthearted and never complained" (Willa Cather).
Joyful and joyous suggest lively, often exultant happiness: a joyful heart; joyous laughter.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

American Heritage Dictionary Products

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

THE USAGE PANEL

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

American Heritage Dictionary Products