adj
merry
MEH-ree
adj
1
Cheerful and full of high spirits; happy and lively.
"The pub was full of merry laughter on Christmas Eve."
"She gave a merry little wave as the train pulled away."
2
Informal, British: slightly drunk.
"After a few glasses of wine he was getting quite merry."
How to Use Merry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCheerful and full of fun, or informally, a little tipsy.
Common pairings
merry Christmas
merry laughter
a bit merry
Word Forms
merrier comparative, merries plural, merriest superlative
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The pub was full of _____ laughter on Christmas Eve.
Etymology
From Old English myrge, "pleasant, delightful," related to a Germanic root meaning "short" — the link is thought to be that pleasant time seems to pass quickly.