DictionaryAI

glad

GLAD/ɡlæd/

Noun pluralglads

5 meanings of glad

Practice

  1. 1
    happyadjectivenot before a noun
    Feeling happy and pleased about something good.

    Like the happy feeling when you open a gift you really wanted.

    I'm so glad you could come to my party.

    She felt glad that the long trip was finally over.

    UsageSay glad to do something, glad (that) something happened, or glad of something. Use it after a verb: I'm glad.

    Similarpleased, happy, delighted, thankful, grateful

    Oppositesad, sorry, unhappy

    Note
  2. 2
    willingadjective
    Happy and ready to do something, often when you offer to help.

    If you need a ride to the airport, I'd be glad to take you.

    My neighbor is always glad to water my plants when I'm away.

    UsageUse glad to + verb to offer help politely: I'd be glad to.

    Similarhappy, pleased, willing, delighted

    Oppositereluctant, unwilling, loath

    Note
  3. 3
    flowernouncolloquialcountablenot before a noun
    A tall garden plant with a spike of large, brightly colored flowers.

    She picked a single glad from the garden for the vase.

    The florist arranged a dozen glads in tall vases by the window.

    UsageGardeners often say glads. Elsewhere, say gladiolus.

    Similargladiolus

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    adjectivearchaicnot before a noun
    Looking bright and cheerful, or making people feel joy.
    Glad Eevening & glad morn crownd the fourth day.
    1667, John Milton, Paradise LostHere, glad means bright and cheerful, making people feel joy.
    Her conversation / More glad to me than to a miser money is.
    a. 1587, Philip Sidney, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia]
    Note
  2. 5
    fill with joyverbarchaictransitivenot before a noun
    To make someone feel happy and pleased.
    God that glads the lover's heart
    1922, A. E. Housman, EpithalamiumHere, glads means makes someone happy and full of joy.
    that which gladded all the warrior train
    1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”

    Similargladden, exhilarate

    Note

Practice

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

Origins

Meanings 1–2, 4–5

From Old English glæd, meaning 'bright' or 'cheerful'. It goes back to an old root meaning 'to shine'.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Meaning 3

A short form of the word 'gladiolus'.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact