What does merriment mean?
Word: Merriment
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Merriment means cheerful fun and laughter shared by a group of people.
Synonyms: fun, jollity
Antonyms: misery, sadness
How do you spell merriment?
Syllables: mer - ri - ment
Tricky part: It comes from merry, but the y changes to i when the ending is added. Keep the double r: merri.
Watch out for: merryment, merriement, merement
Memory tip: When merry gets a tail, the y bends into an i, just as happy becomes happiness.
Merriment in a sentence
Example 1: The wedding hall was full of music and merriment till late at night.
Example 2: There was great merriment when the cake fell gently onto Papa's lap.
Example 3: The village fair brings merriment to everyone after the harvest.
Fun Fact
Merry goes back to the Old English word myrige, which meant pleasant or delightful, the sense still heard in a merry tune.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
merrimment
a) i
b) m
c) r
d) e
Show answer
b) m. The ending is a plain ment with one m, as in payment.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
merriment
a) glee
b) gloom
c) boredom
d) sorrow
Show answer
a) glee. Glee is joyful fun; gloom and sorrow sit at the other end.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
mirtemner
a) increment
b) sentiment
c) merriment
d) detriment
Show answer
c) merriment. Detriment needs a d, sentiment an s and increment a c; only merriment uses a second r and a second m.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) laughter
b) celebration
c) happiness
d) amusment
Show answer
d) amusment. Amusement keeps the whole of amuse, final e included; the other three are spelt correctly.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where would you most expect to find merriment?
a) at a hospital bedside
b) in an exam hall
c) at a birthday party
d) in a silent library
Show answer
c) at a birthday party
2. Which sound goes best with merriment?
a) angry shouts and grumbles
b) quiet, nervous whispers
c) giggles and cheering
d) loud, sad sobbing
Show answer
c) giggles and cheering
