1
: characterized by good-humored cheerfulness and conviviality : jolly
a jovial host
a jovial welcome
spent a jovial evening together
2
capitalized
: of or relating to Jove
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Jovial and Birth Dates
In Roman astrology, planets were named after gods, and people were thought to share the personality traits of the god whose planet was rising when they were born. Jupiter, also called Jove, was the chief Roman god and was considered a majestic type who was the source of joy and happiness. The Latin adjective jovialis means "of or relating to Jove." In French, this had become jovial, which English borrowed and used to describe people and things full of cheer or joy.
Synonyms
Examples of jovial in a Sentence
In response, an infuriating wink: Alsana always likes to appear jovial at the very moment that her interlocutor becomes hot under the collar.
—
Zadie Smith, White Teeth, 2001
I felt I was slumming, in my own life. My task was to ward off the drivel … the jovial claptrap of classmates and teachers, the maddening bromides I heard at home.
—Susan Sontag, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 1987
For, the people who were shovelling away on the housetops were jovial and full of glee; calling out to one another from the parapets, and now and then exchanging a facetious snowball …
—Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843
The audience was in a jovial mood.
He's a very jovial man.
Zadie Smith, White Teeth, 2001
I felt I was slumming, in my own life. My task was to ward off the drivel … the jovial claptrap of classmates and teachers, the maddening bromides I heard at home.
—Susan Sontag, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 1987
For, the people who were shovelling away on the housetops were jovial and full of glee; calling out to one another from the parapets, and now and then exchanging a facetious snowball …
—Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843
The audience was in a jovial mood.
He's a very jovial man.
Recent Examples on the Web
Members of the band then burst through the door with a galvanizing musical salute that saw audiences cheer and clap along with jovial captivating.
—Sam Falb, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024
In the morning, we were whisked away on the hotel's private gondola to the top of the mountain, where we were greeted with a festive atmosphere that included plenty of hot cocoa, warm fondue, and jovial spirits.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2024
Dodgers Plaschke: Jack Flaherty gives Dodgers dramatic trade deadline victory
July 30, 2024
Mark Hartman, the coach of that Little League championship team, said Flaherty was a jovial kid off the field, but never on it.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
The mood of those awaiting Harris’ remarks is noticeably jovial, says Kathy Papa, who drove in from nearby Byron Center to see Harris speak.
—Sarah Atwood, Detroit Free Press, 19 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jovial 
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Sam Falb, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024
In the morning, we were whisked away on the hotel's private gondola to the top of the mountain, where we were greeted with a festive atmosphere that included plenty of hot cocoa, warm fondue, and jovial spirits.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2024
Dodgers Plaschke: Jack Flaherty gives Dodgers dramatic trade deadline victory
July 30, 2024
Mark Hartman, the coach of that Little League championship team, said Flaherty was a jovial kid off the field, but never on it.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
The mood of those awaiting Harris’ remarks is noticeably jovial, says Kathy Papa, who drove in from nearby Byron Center to see Harris speak.
—Sarah Atwood, Detroit Free Press, 19 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jovial
Dictionary Entries Near jovial
Cite this Entry
“Jovial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jovial. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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