Oxford English and Spanish Dictionary, Synonyms, and Spanish to English Translator

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Meaning of merry in English:

merry

Pronunciation /ˈmɛri/

See synonyms for merry

Translate merry into Spanish

adjectivemerrier, merriest

1Cheerful and lively.
‘the streets were dense with merry throngs of students’
- ‘Showing or characterized by exuberance or mirthful excitement; merry; cheerful; jolly.’
- ‘The night was not lonely either, as quite a few regulars danced cheerfully to merry tunes in the moonlight.’
- ‘Still, we carry on cheerfully, whistling a merry tune as we stir it all up with a wooden spoon.’
- ‘The girls were all merry and cheerful, walking through the regiments to spread encouragement and cheer to the men gathered there.’
- ‘A local band played on a raised pedestal and people of all species were dancing together in time with the lively beat in a merry atmosphere.’
- ‘Within seconds, the three of us are chugging away at the front of the balcony, clinking glasses and bottles with the merry throng around us.’
- ‘The eldest of the Ellertson girls were slightly younger than Clara, and were as merry and cheerful as their brother.’
- ‘Will motioned to him from a corner table where he was playing cards with a short gnome; Alexander began wading through the throng of merry patrons to reach him.’
- ‘Jahson clapped his hands with glee and danced a merry jig while Pablo grinned wolfishly.’
- ‘Dad had spotted me and my cheese snacks, and waved me over with a disgustingly merry grin on his face.’
- ‘This link has phrases saying merry Christmas and happy new year in many, many, many languages (including Maori, Welsh and Cree).’
- ‘His poetry had a chaste reserve that reflected his Englishness, but off the page he was a merry wit who laughed loudly, told raunchy jokes and felt more at home in a leather bar than a stuffy literary function.’
- ‘These ‘sandboys’ were paid partly in ale, and were usually half-cut or merry: hence ‘happy’.’
- ‘Her pleasant smile, the glint in the eye and genuine sense of fun and devilment made her very popular and you were always assured of a good laugh and a merry time when she was around the place.’
- ‘And I laughed and guffawed at the irony of it, and even Verge did let forth a merry mirth-filled giggle.’
- ‘As usual making fun of myself so everyone can laugh and be merry.’
- ‘Her soprano lullabies and fun character allowed the audience to laugh and be merry.’
- ‘Just then a man stepped up ten yards away from them, his expression was merry and bright, on his face blood was trickling, he had on a fancy red coat, decorated from head to toe.’
- ‘Lillie gives a merry laugh, and slaps him lightly.’
- ‘So, have fun eating, drinking and being merry whether it's by a roaring fire or a slightly less picturesque roaring radiator.’
- ‘And off we strolled, whistling merry Christmas tunes, and with only the very slightest of hops, skips and jumps in our step.’
cheerful, cheery, in good spirits, high-spirited, blithe, bright, sunny, light-hearted, buoyant, bubbly, lively, carefree, without a care in the world, joyful, joyous, rejoicing, jolly, jocund, convivial, festive, mirthful, gleeful, happy, glad, laughing
View synonyms
1. 1.1(of an occasion or season) characterized by festivity and enjoyment.
  ‘he wished me a merry Christmas’
  ‘Chris Birdsall, hospital spokesman, said it is important patients get to celebrate the merry season.’
  ‘With the merry season fast approaching people are warned that more than two thirds of the region's young singletons say smoking drastically reduces sexual attractiveness.’
  ‘E-card sites flaunt the day tempting the browsers to send wishes across to their pals for a merry season blooming with happiness.’
  ‘In any case I hope you have a very merry season, and the best of everything n the New Year.’
  ‘The fire crackled and, beside it, rum punch simmered with promise of a merry Occasion.’
  ‘Every popular hangout for young folks has planned a merry event to mark the festivities, and on the menu are foods and beverages from many lands.’
  ‘The Finale is also merry and joyous in keeping with the whole spirit of the work.’
  ‘I'd placed the order before the merry events of the last few weeks, so I was a bit surprised to come home one day and find 50 bags piled in the backyard.’
  ‘A trip to the hairdressers has become a merry experience for a group of Harrogate ladies after their local salon became one of the first in Britain to be granted a liquor licence.’
  ‘A slice of fried or steamed fish fairly salivates at the prospect of a merry meeting.’
  ‘Jerome, muttering and dripping thick mud and rainwater, brought up the rear of this merry parade.’
  ‘I believe I'll just go along with BiaS and ignore this merry event.’
  ‘Pixies run on his limbs and they arrange merry feasts in his honour.’
  ‘Bright and attractive colours were used to create a merry festival atmosphere.’
  ‘And finally as it is the festive season, a very merry Christmas to everyone from all at Headfirst Productions.’
  ‘And we wish you the best of the season and merry Christmas.’
  ‘Irish festivals have become a custom down through the years and this summers festival merry go round has already begun with one not left short of events to attend in the coming months.’
  ‘Why not make Election Eve as merry and festive as Christmas Eve?’
  ‘But there's a distinctly conifer shaped fly in this otherwise merry festive ointment - with the row over the re-positioning of the Christmas tree.’
  ‘It is, after all, the season to be merry and this will certainly put the required grin on your face.’
  festive, celebratory, merry, joyous, joyful
  View synonyms
2. 1.2informal Slightly and good-humouredly drunk.
  ‘after the third beer he began to feel quite merry’
  ‘Even though I may have been slightly merry I still could not escape the feeling of how weird all this was.’
  ‘In the event, the meal was fine and, by the end, I was feeling slightly merry, and my companions were at last sobering up.’
  ‘Sitting on a bench with, as I soon discover, two slightly merry female postgraduate students who are, like me, waiting for a train on the Rayners Lane branch.’
  ‘More than half of them were merry with alcohol at that point, and a lot drunker than people thought I was.’
  ‘For example, here's a very merry guy who might just have a slight problem with alcohol.’
  ‘Everyone was getting quite merry, and the glasses were being passed about.’
  ‘They returned home at 10.45 pm "quite merry" and went to bed about half an hour later, he said.’
  ‘Basically, after having no alcoholic drink supplies for the previous week, it was no wonder we were all quite merry on that occasion.’
  ‘"Terry was quite merry. He wasn't staggering but he was in quite a good mood," she said.’
  ‘His recollection is you had been to some sort of do in the afternoon or early evening, and you were quite merry.’
  tipsy, mellow, slightly drunk
  View synonyms

Phrases

the more the merrier

The more people or things there are, the better a situation will be.
‘partners in such projects should come from at least two member states (but the more, the merrier)’
- ‘He said: ‘I would invite anyone who has an interest in getting fit and playing this exciting and easy to learn sport to come along the more the merrier!’’
- ‘‘It's difficult to operate with anything less than 10 or 12 so we are looking for eight or 10 new members this winter, but the more the merrier,’ he said.’
- ‘It's raising money for Cancer Research and the Army Benevolent Fund so hopefully we will get a few there - the more the merrier!’
- ‘I think liberals should say, look, the more the merrier.’
- ‘All players who were aged under 18 on April 1 are more than welcome, this is your chance to represent your town, your league, please attend, the more the merrier.’
- ‘Second, when it comes to partying, the more the merrier.’
- ‘To me, especially after September 11, everything is everyone's business should they wish it - the more the merrier.’
- ‘All details appreciated and the more the merrier.’
- ‘All past pupils are welcome to attend - in fact the more the merrier for what promises to be a very enjoyable event beginning at 1.30 pm.’
- ‘Girls and boys can play and the more the merrier.’
- ‘There is no one size that will fit all, I think the more the merrier frankly.’
- ‘They should change their rules to allow women in because, the way I look at it, the more the merrier, especially as traditional club users are getting older.’
- ‘Oh and spread the word, tell your friends - the more the merrier…!’
- ‘For Allardyce it is a case of the more the merrier.’
- ‘But by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier.’
- ‘All are welcome to the Autumn Social and the more the merrier.’
- ‘If you'd like to beat me to the punch, please go ahead - the more the merrier.’
- ‘But it is a case of the more the merrier for the swimmer who is confident he has a great hope of a medal in the 4x200m freestyle team event.’
- ‘It's very much a matter of the more the merrier for a good cause.’
- ‘Everyone is welcome to enter into this competition, the more the merrier!’

make merry

Enjoy oneself with others by dancing and drinking.
‘back at the hotel, he's urging on his supporters to make merry’
- ‘He enjoys life to the extreme; he drinks and makes merry with his wide circle of friends.’
- ‘While as a Christian, I am supposed to mourn his death and get myself to church, instead I was at a reunion party indulging in food, drinks and basically making merry.’
- ‘After a day of eating, drinking and making merry, round off with some words of wisdom from our favourite family.’
- ‘We started off the evening at the house, drinking and making merry before we went out for the night.’
- ‘An excuse to shop until you drop, drink to excess and make merry.’
- ‘They're both eager to drink, club and make merry in London while they can before returning to Tehran next week.’
- ‘Everyone made merry and most drank too much, including me!’
- ‘They binge on Thai food, drink and make merry, take the sun and gleefully partake in Pattaya's rowdy nightlife.’
- ‘Relatives, friends and well wishers join together to eat, drink, and make merry.’
- ‘By day, they gathered to denounce royal policy, while at night they expected to eat, drink, and make merry at the king's expense.’
- ‘After all, there will be plenty of chances to eat, drink and make merry once he has retired.’
- ‘I want to enjoy my existence on this earth, be happy and make merry.’
- ‘Strange to feel so melancholy at such a joyous time, so many people celebrating, making merry, making love in the warm twilight of these shortest nights.’
- ‘Each was crammed with small parties of people making merry and recounting long passed glory days.’
- ‘The demon in me wants to say party and make merry.’
- ‘She saw people feasting, dancing, and making merry, exactly as she expected.’
- ‘Currently, the rest of the unit were making merry in there rooms, enjoying the few hours each day they got off.’
- ‘Now, we go to rest, drink, eat, and make merry to give us all a nice happy buzz to prevent any feelings of worry about tomorrow!’
- ‘They made merry on Christmas, sometimes got drunk and became loud.’
- ‘The topic ‘two dolphins making merry in sea, jumping in unison’, had made the children to permit their imagination run riot in rich colours.’

go on one's merry way

informal

Carry on with a course of action regardless of the consequences.
- ‘now you're here, are you thinking of staying, or are you going to go off again on your merry way?’
- ‘Too shocked to complain, the pair went on their merry way.’
- ‘So we went on our merry way, stopping at Bangkok City Hall, and a tiny temple with a lucky fat Buddha.’
- ‘I bought an iced latte and a yummy vanilla caramel stick thing at Starbucks, browsed the magazines (didn't find Cloth, Paper, Scissors mag) and went on my merry way.’
- ‘But I committed the cover to memory and went on my merry way.’
- ‘I gave him the benefit of the doubt, and went on my merry way.’
- ‘I would also end up in Cowra much too late, so I thought ‘nuts to you, lady’ and went on my merry way anyway.’
- ‘I received a much more discreet dressing and went on my merry way.’
- ‘I then paid for the postcards and went on my merry way to wait another two hours for my plane to leave.’
- ‘I never heard from them after that: I just kind of went on my merry way with the tournament.’
- ‘He shook his shaggy blond head, gave me a ‘you're a nut’ look and went on his merry way.’
- ‘So, in this episode, the crew simply tracks down the offending aliens, gives them the little foetus, and goes on their merry way, completely unaffected by the event.’
- ‘We just get on with it and he just goes on his merry way?’
- ‘At one point in the story, Cathy says: ‘It's hard to go on your merry way when your mistakes, the pain you've caused the people around you can't simply be erased.‘’
- ‘You go down to the clinic, get a room, maybe flip through a magazine or watch a flick, perform your ‘duty,’ collect a check, and then go on your merry way.’
- ‘I guess your expectation is that you get online, release your pent-up culpability and go on your merry way.’
- ‘Meanwhile, the world's nasty types the greedy, the vicious, the self-serving, the nutters go on their merry way, as murderously unambiguous as ever.’
- ‘The new designs mostly just pay lip service to this notion and then go on their merry way.’
- ‘Then I can just manoeuvre over to my local neighbourhood crane, knock the bomb off, land up-right and go on my merry way.’
- ‘If she's feeling a bit energetic, I can simply leave it dripping and go on my merry way.’
- ‘He's the kind of guy who, when you moved his cheese, would take it in his stride and quietly go on his merry way.’