merry

/ˈmeri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmeri/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmer-ē ˈme-rē/ (ame, mw)

merry — adjective

  • merrypositive
  • merriercomparative
  • merriestsuperlative

1. feeling or showing happiness and a desire to laugh, smile, and have a good time

1.形容詞B1
釋義

feeling or showing happiness and a desire to laugh, smile, and have a good time — the kind of mood you might have at a joyful party or celebration.

例句

Zayd was in a merry mood at the picnic, telling jokes and making everyone laugh.

in a merry mood

The sound of merry laughter came from the kitchen where the children decorated cookies.

merry laughter

同義詞
  • cheerful

    more common in everyday speech; describes a steady, positive mood

  • jolly

    suggests a hearty, outward-looking good mood often tied to food, drink, or company

  • joyful

    stronger and deeper; describes a feeling of great happiness, not just high spirits

  • lively

    focuses on energy and activity rather than inner happiness

反義詞
  • gloomy

    the opposite mood — sad, dark, without cheer

  • miserable

    much stronger; describes deep unhappiness

  • somber

    formal; describes a serious, joyless atmosphere

文法句型

merry + noun

be/feel/get + merry

用法筆記

Attributive and predicative use are both common. When placed before a noun ('a merry laugh'), the sense is lively and cheerful. After a linking verb ('she felt merry'), it often carries a hint of being slightly high-spirited from drink — context resolves the ambiguity.

常見錯誤

❌The kids were very merry at the birthday party, running around and shouting.' (correct but formal-sounding)
✅The kids were very lively / full of joy at the birthday party.
💡'merry' is less common in everyday speech than 'happy', 'cheerful', or 'full of joy'.
❌a merry Christmas tree' (meaning a happy tree)
✅We had a merry Christmas.
💡'merry' describes the celebration, not the object.

2. having drunk a small amount of alcohol so that you feel cheerful and relaxed, wi

2.形容詞B2
釋義

having drunk a small amount of alcohol so that you feel cheerful and relaxed, without losing control of what you say or do.

例句

After a single glass of wine, Élise was feeling quite merry at the dinner party.

feeling quite merry — UK euphemism for slightly drunk

"Everyone was getting a bit merry by the end of the wedding," Maeve whispered.

同義詞
  • tipsy

    the most common word for slightly drunk; works in UK and US English

  • buzzed

    American informal; describes the first pleasant effects of alcohol

  • mellow

    stresses relaxation and calmness from alcohol rather than high spirits

反義詞

文法句型

be/get/feel + merry

用法筆記

Almost always predicative — you say 'he is merry' but rarely 'a merry man' in this sense. Distinguish from sense 1 by register: this sense is a light-hearted euphemism, common in British social contexts. 'Getting merry', 'a bit merry', 'quite merry' are the most frequent patterns.

常見錯誤

❌I was merry last night.' (ambiguous — means happy or drunk?)
✅I was a bit merry last night after the party.
💡adding 'a bit' or 'quite' clarifies the euphemistic drunk sense.
❌I am getting merry' (uncommon in American English)
✅I am getting tipsy / buzzed.
💡American speakers rarely use 'merry' for mild drunkenness.

3. used as part of the traditional greeting 'Merry Christmas' to wish someone a hap

3.形容詞A2
釋義

used as part of the traditional greeting 'Merry Christmas' to wish someone a happy, peaceful, and enjoyable Christmas holiday.

例句

The children shouted "Merry Christmas!" as they ran down the stairs on Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas — fixed seasonal greeting

Our Japanese neighbour brought us a cake and wished us a merry Christmas.

文法句型

Merry Christmas

Happy Christmas

用法筆記

Only occurs in the fixed expression 'Merry Christmas' (or its variant 'Merry Xmas' in writing). In British English, 'Happy Christmas' is also common, especially among older speakers and the royal family. This sense does not extend to other holidays — you would not say 'Merry New Year' or 'Merry Easter'.

常見錯誤

❌I wish you a merry birthday.
✅I wish you a happy birthday.
💡'merry' is only used for Christmas in this sense.
❌Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year' (correct — this is the standard pair)
💡both 'Merry' and 'Happy' are idiomatic in this well-known phrase.
❌Merry Christmass
✅Merry Christmas
💡no double 's' at the end.

4. lively, quick, and full of forward energy — used mainly in older or literary wri

4.形容詞C1
釋義

lively, quick, and full of forward energy — used mainly in older or literary writing to describe a rapid pace of movement or sound.

例句

The horse set off at a merry trot along the country lane.

merry trot — set phrase for a quick, lively pace

The old postman walked at a merry pace from door to door.

同義詞
  • brisk

    more common in modern English; describes fast, energetic movement

  • lively

    broader meaning — energy and spirit in movement, sound, or atmosphere

  • spirited

    stresses enthusiasm and determination more than pure speed

  • breezy

    informal; suggests light, carefree speed

反義詞
  • slow

    direct opposite in terms of speed

  • sluggish

    suggests slow and heavy movement with little energy

  • leisurely

    not an antonym of speed — actually describes relaxed, unhurried pace

文法句型

merry + pace/speed/trot

用法筆記

Attributive only — 'merry' comes before the noun (a merry pace, a merry trot). Distinguish from sense 1: here 'merry' describes speed and liveliness, not emotional happiness. This sense is now rare in modern conversation; learners will mostly encounter it in classic literature (Dickens, Kipling) and in set phrases like 'a merry dance'.

常見錯誤

❌He walked very merry.
✅He walked at a merry pace.
💡this sense is attributive only; it cannot be used predicatively.
❌The students were merry in finishing the test.
✅The students worked at a merry pace to finish the test.
💡'merry' describes the pace or speed, not the people.