gay

GAY/ɡeɪ/

Adjectivegayer, gayest

Noun pluralgays

22 meanings of gay

Practice

1
adjective
Attracted to people of the same sex. It is sometimes used just about men.
My aunt is gay, and she lives with her wife.
She realized she was gay during her last year of school.
UsageSay a gay man or gay people.
Similarhomosexual, lesbian, queer
Oppositestraight, heterosexual
Note
2
adjectivecolloquial
Not straight, or part of a sexual or gender minority.
The center helps gay teens, including those who are bi or trans.
The gay crowd at the festival included lesbian, bisexual, and trans people.
UsageQueer is clearer for this wide meaning.
Similarqueer
Oppositestraight, heterosexual
Note
3
adjective
About, between, or meant for gay people, like a gay club or a gay couple.
They spent Friday night at a gay bar downtown.
He picked up a gay magazine at the newsstand.
Similarqueer
Oppositestraight, heterosexual
Note
4
nouncountableplural
A person attracted to others of the same sex, especially a man.
Growing up in a small town, he didn't know any other gays.
The march drew thousands of gays and their allies.
Similarhomosexual
Oppositeheterosexual, straight
Note
5
nouncolloquialironicuncountable
The quality of being homosexual.
She joked that the party needed a little more gay.
He never tried to hide the gay in his sense of style.
UsageSay play up the gay.
Similarhomosexuality, queerness
Note

Less common meanings

6
happyadjectivedated
Happy, full of fun, and lively.
The children were gay and laughing all through the picnic.
To think that only yesterday / I was cheerful, bright and gay
1972, Gilbert O'Sullivan, “Alone Again (Naturally)”Here, gay means happy, cheerful, and lively.
UsageToday people say cheerful or merry.
Similarmerry, cheerful, jolly, lighthearted, blithe
Oppositesad, gloomy, somber, melancholy
Note
7
lameadjectiveslangderogatorypejorativeoffensive
Bad, boring, or not cool.
He complained that the homework was totally gay.
The kids said the new rule at school was gay.
UsageIt hurts gay people. Say bad or boring instead.
Similarlame, stupid, dumb, naff
Oppositecool, awesome
Note
8
flamboyantadjective
Seeming to match ideas people have about how gay men look or act.
He thought the pink, feathery decor looked a little gay.
The bright, sparkly outfit struck them as very gay.
Similarcamp, flamboyant, effeminate
9
colorfuladjectivedated
Bright, colorful, and full of cheer.
Like a room full of balloons and bright colors.
The ballroom looked gay with streamers and colored lights.
Don we now our gay apparel.
1881, J. P. McCaskey (editor), “Deck the Hall”Here, gay means bright, colorful, and festive.
Similarbright, colorful, festive, vivid, showy
Oppositedrab, dull, somber
Note
10
same-sex crushadjectiveslang
In love with another person of the same sex.
She admitted she was completely gay for her best friend.
He has been gay for that singer since high school.
UsageSay gay for someone.
Similarsmitten, infatuated
Note
11
crazy for thingsadjectiveslanghumorous
Crazy about something in a joking way that fits gay stereotypes.
Like being so into something you sound like its number one fan.
After the cruise, he came back totally gay for fancy cocktails.
She's been gay for musical theater ever since that show.
UsageSay gay for a thing as a joke with friends.
Similarobsessed, crazy, mad, infatuated
Note
12
same-sex animalsadjective
Of an animal, tending to mate or pair with others of the same sex.
The zoo's two gay penguins hatched and raised a chick.
A few of the rams in the flock were gay, pairing only with other males.
Similarsame-sex, homosexual
Oppositeheterosexual
13
link to homosexualsverbraretransitive
To make people connect something with gay people.
14
quickadjectivedated
Quick in movement, or fast.
I went a gay shack, / For it started to rain.
1873, Gwordie Greenup, Yance a YearHere, gay means quick, so moving fast.
We launched our canoe and were off at a gay clip for Hackettstown, where Mart had a married sister, and we were figuring on big eats.
1918, Hunter-trader-trapperHere, gay means quick, so moving at a fast speed.
Similarbrisk, quick, fast, swift, rapid
Oppositeslow, leisurely, sluggish
Note
15
brighten upverbdatedtransitive
To make a person, place, or event happier and more cheerful.
Gaying Things Up For Christmas. JESSIE TODD, Laboratory School, University of Chicago. EVERY schoolroom in America is gayed up for Christmas.
1952, American ChildhoodHere, gaying up and gayed up mean making things bright and cheerful.
Similarcheer, brighten, enliven, gladden
Oppositesadden, depress
Note
16
adjectiveobsolete
Having many sexual partners, or working as a prostitute.
She imprudently forms the acquaintance of a "gay girl" living in the same street.
1898, John Mackinnon Robertson, G. Aston SingerHere, gay means having many sexual partners or working as a prostitute.
Gay (common), loose, dissipated; a "gay woman" or "gay girl," a prostitute. "All gay," vide ALL GAY.
1889, Albert Barrère, Charles Godfrey LelandHere, gay means loose or sexually free, and a gay girl is a prostitute.
Note
17
veryadverbdialectalNorthern EnglandScotland
Very, or to a large degree. Used in Scotland and northern England.
It was gay cold out on the hills that morning.
That's a gay big bag for a wee lad to carry.
Similarvery, pretty, quite, rather, right
Oppositeslightly
Note
18
adjectiveobsoleteNorthern EnglandScotland
Large in number, size, or amount.
There were a gay bit of lace on it.
1881, Dixon, Craven DalesHere, gay means large or considerable, so a big piece of lace.
A gay deal different to what I is noo.
1876, Richardson, Talk 1Here, gay means great, so a great deal different.
Note
19
nounobsolete
A bright, colorful thing, like a picture or a flower.
At a stall soon Mary bote / A hume-book full ov gays.
1839, Charles Clark, John Noakes and Mary StylesHere, gays means bright, colorful pictures.
I had no books to read, but plenty of gays to look at.
1892, P. H. Emerson, A Son of the FensHere, gays means bright, colorful pictures or things.
Note
20
nounobsolete
A small pretty object used for decoration.
Look upon precepts in emblems, as they do to upon gays and pictures.
1692, Roger L’Estrange, FablesHere, gays means small pretty decorations or trinkets.
Note
21
adjective
Of an animal's tail, held high or curved over the back.
22
noun
In Pitman shorthand, the sign used for the 'g' sound.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of gay apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old French 'gai', meaning 'joyful, merry'. The meaning 'homosexual' grew out of older slang such as 'gay boy' and 'gay cat'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Gay comes from Old French gai, meaning joyful or merry. en.wiktionary.org
The homosexual sense is documented as early as the 1920s; its development cannot be confined to the 1930s. en.wikipedia.org
The homosexual meaning developed from older sexual slang, including gay boy and gay cat. en.wikipedia.org