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jubilant

JOO-buh-lunt /ˈdʒuːbɪlənt/

adjectiveC1GRESATTOEFL

literaryformal

Feeling or expressing great happiness, triumph, or triumph-filled joy.

Describes vocal, triumphant, and visible joy, often following a shared victory, milestone, or celebration.

The story behind the word. The Latin verb 'iubilare' meant to shout loudly in joyful triumph. Early Christian scholars blended it with the Hebrew 'yobhel', the ram's horn sounded to announce the biblical Jubilee year, solidifying its association with grand celebratory joy.

Word relationships

exultant: Exultant stresses triumphant pride over a specific success, while jubilant emphasizes enthusiastic collective happiness.
ecstatic: Ecstatic describes an intense, overwhelming personal bliss, whereas jubilant often has a outward, noisy, communal character.

despondent: Despondent describes feeling utterly downcast, hopeless, and lacking joy.
mournful: Mournful expresses deep grief or sorrow.

Commonly confused with

jubilee: A jubilee is a special anniversary or milestone celebration (noun), whereas jubilant describes the joyful emotion (adjective).

Word family

jubilation (noun): A feeling of great happiness and triumph.
jubilantly (adverb): In a jubilant or exultant manner.

Collocations

jubilant crowd
jubilant mood
jubilant celebration
jubilant cheers

Idioms & expressions

shout for joy

Example sentences

"The jubilant crowds danced in the streets as church bells heralded the start of the new year." Literature
"A jubilant cheer erupted through the hall when the midnight chimes finished sounding." History Narrative

Memory hook

Jubilant people shout 'Jubilee!' as they celebrate. Shouting with joyful triumph.

When not to use

Do not use for quiet, subdued happiness; jubilant implies expressive, exultant joy.

Fun facts

In ancient ancient ritual, blowing the ram's horn signaled every 50th year as a year of rest and celebration.