what does rejoice mean

Rejoice means to feel or express great joy, happiness, or delight, often in response to positive news, achievements, or events.

Core Definition

The word "rejoice" primarily functions as a verb describing an intense emotional state of gladness or exultation. Dictionaries consistently define it as experiencing high levels of joy, such as being exhilarated by lively, pleasurable sensations, as seen in historical uses like "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice" from Proverbs 29:2. It can also be transitive, meaning to make someone else joyful, though this usage is less common today.

Usage Examples

• Everyday contexts: "The fans rejoiced when their team won the championship," highlighting communal celebration.

• Formal or celebratory: "We rejoiced over our friend's good fortune," often with prepositions like at , in , over , or about.

• Religious or literary: Phrases like "rejoice in thy salvation" (Psalms 9) emphasize spiritual exultation.

Synonyms and Nuances

Rejoice conveys stronger emotion than simple "happy"—think triumphant glee rather than mild contentment.

Synonym| Nuance Example| Antonym Example
---|---|---
Delight| Quiet satisfaction 6| Grieve
Exult| Boastful triumph 6| Lament
Jubilate| Public, festive joy 6| Weep
Glory| Proud revelry 6| Regret

Etymology and Forms

Originating from Old French rejoir ("re-" intensive + joir "to experience joy"), it entered Middle English around the 1300s. Related forms include:

• Rejoicing (noun/gerund): The act or feeling of joy, e.g., "a time of rejoicing."

• Rejoiced (past tense): "They rejoiced at the news."
• Rejoicingly (adverb): Rarely used, meaning "with exultation."

Cultural Contexts

In modern English (as of January 2026), "rejoice" appears in uplifting news, like communities rejoicing over disaster recoveries or victories, but less in casual speech where "celebrate" suffices. Forums occasionally debate its precise phrasing, suggesting alternatives like "overjoyed by" for smoother flow.

TL;DR : Rejoice = intense, expressive joy.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.