gay
1 of 2adjective
ˈgā 
1
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to people of one's same sex
gay men
a gay woman in her 40s
—often used to refer to men only gay and lesbian members of the community
b
: of, relating to, or intended for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, etc.
the gay rights movement
a gay bar
2
a
: happily excited : merry
in a gay mood
b
: keenly alive and exuberant : having or inducing high spirits
a bird's gay spring song
3
a
: bright, lively
gay sunny meadows
b
: brilliant in color
4
: given to social pleasures
also : licentious
gay adverb
gayness noun
gay
2 of 2noun
plural gays
sometimes disparaging + offensive, see usage paragraph below : a gay person
especially : a gay man
Synonyms
Adjective
- active
- airy
- animate
- animated
- bouncing
- brisk
- energetic
- frisky
- jaunty
- jazzy
- kinetic
- lively
- mettlesome
- peppy
- perky
- pert
- pizzazzy
- pizazzy
- racy
- snappy
- spanking
- sparky
- spirited
- sprightly
- springy
- vital
- vivacious
- zippy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The band was playing a gay tune. the gayest of the spring flowers
Recent Examples on the Web
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2022 The club argued that Yeshiva's plea to the Supreme Court was premature, also noting the university already has recognized a gay pride club at its law school. CBS News, 17 Sep. 2022 Attendance was strong, according to Tyner, and there is an expectation that the museum will feature an entire series on gay Mardi Gras organizations of both Mobile and New Orleans in the coming year. al, 16 Sep. 2022 As Colin pays a duty visit to see Joe, an angry former miner who homophobically disdains his openly gay son’s lifestyle in London, various members of staff and management get wind of Colin’s power and try to persuade him to save the Beth. Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Sep. 2022 Republicans maintained conservative positions on religious liberty, gay rights and other social issues, and espoused a strong military and lower taxes while paying lip service to a smaller government and budgetary restraint. Michael Bobelian, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 San Diego is a famously gay-friendly city, as anyone who was out and about during Pride weekend in July could inherently feel. San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 Last year, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that a Catholic foster care agency in Philadelphia was entitled to turn away gay and lesbian couples as clients. John Fritze, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2022 All but disowned by his homophobic mom (a revelatory Gabrielle Union), Ellis (Jeremy Pope), a young, gay Black man who’s been living on the streets, decides to pull his life together and join the Marine Corps. Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2022 See More
Adjective
And now for something completely different: a gay musical fantasia about a prince who falls in love with a fireman. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2022 The club argued that Yeshiva's plea to the Supreme Court was premature, also noting the university already has recognized a gay pride club at its law school. CBS News, 17 Sep. 2022 Attendance was strong, according to Tyner, and there is an expectation that the museum will feature an entire series on gay Mardi Gras organizations of both Mobile and New Orleans in the coming year. al, 16 Sep. 2022 As Colin pays a duty visit to see Joe, an angry former miner who homophobically disdains his openly gay son’s lifestyle in London, various members of staff and management get wind of Colin’s power and try to persuade him to save the Beth. Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Sep. 2022 Republicans maintained conservative positions on religious liberty, gay rights and other social issues, and espoused a strong military and lower taxes while paying lip service to a smaller government and budgetary restraint. Michael Bobelian, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 San Diego is a famously gay-friendly city, as anyone who was out and about during Pride weekend in July could inherently feel. San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 Last year, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that a Catholic foster care agency in Philadelphia was entitled to turn away gay and lesbian couples as clients. John Fritze, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2022 All but disowned by his homophobic mom (a revelatory Gabrielle Union), Ellis (Jeremy Pope), a young, gay Black man who’s been living on the streets, decides to pull his life together and join the Marine Corps. Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French gai, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German gāhi quick, sudden
Noun
derivative of gay entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
Noun
1953, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing gay
Kids Definition
gay
adjective
ˈgā
gayer; gayest
1
: merry sense 1, happy
Setsu grew … into a gay, willful, pretty girl. Pearl S. Buck, The Big Wave
Pearl S. Buck, The Big Wave2
: cheerful and lively
They played a gay tune.
3
: brightly colored
a gay dress
Medical Definition
gay
adjective
ˈgā
1
: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to individuals of one's same sex
gay men
a gay woman in her 40s
—often used to refer to men only gay and lesbian members of the community
2
: of, relating to, or intended for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, etc.
gay issues
Biographical Definition
Gay
biographical name
ˈgā
John 1685–1732 English poet and dramatist
gay
adjective
1
as in animated
having much high-spirited energy and movement couples dancing a gay, fast-paced jig Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- animated
- animate
- active
- energetic
- lively
- brisk
- spanking
- frisky
- spirited
- enthusiastic
- cheerful
- playful
- vivacious
- bouncing
- jazzy
- peppy
- racy
- kinetic
- mettlesome
- sparky
- jaunty
- awake
- sprightly
- perky
- airy
- dapper
- vital
- zippy
- pert
- springy
- agile
- bright
- pizzazzy
- eager
- snappy
- pizazzy
- dashing
- up
- boisterous
- nervous
- ebullient
- pixieish
- on the go
- spiffy
- frolicsome
- upbeat
- buoyant
- bubbly
- impish
- chirrupy
- exuberant
- chipper
- sparkly
- effervescent
- chirpy
- open-eyed
- spry
- nimble
- skittish
- alert
- keen
- agog
- wide-awake
- high-spirited
- high-strung
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dead
- limp
- inactive
- inanimate
- vapid
- languid
- lifeless
- listless
- lazy
- lackadaisical
- leaden
- spiritless
- tired
- languishing
- weary
- sleepy
- indolent
- lethargic
- phlegmatic
- torpid
- inert
- unambitious
- sluggish
- apathetic
- boring
- impassive
- stolid
- languorous
- dull
- irksome
- tedious
2
as in nonchalant
having or showing freedom from worries or trouble a gay, thoughtless girl who didn't care whether her work was done or not Synonyms & Similar Words
- nonchalant
- debonair
- carefree
- cavalier
- lighthearted
- casual
- blithe
- relaxed
- happy-go-lucky
- lightsome
- slaphappy
- unconcerned
- insouciant
- blasé
- devil-may-care
- informal
- blase
- easygoing
- laid-back
- breezy
- unfussy
- low-pressure
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- serious
- careworn
- earnest
- sombre
- grave
- somber
- careful
- upset
- wary
- cautious
- anxious
- worried
- serious-minded
- concerned
- sorrowful
- heedful
- long-suffering
- overburdened
3
as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor had a gay old time at the party Synonyms & Similar Words
- merry
- jolly
- festive
- cheerful
- jocose
- jovial
- funny
- laughing
- joyful
- blithe
- jocular
- sunny
- happy
- witty
- amused
- lively
- mirthful
- blithesome
- playful
- smiling
- jocund
- humorous
- gleeful
- animated
- amusing
- bright
- joking
- spirited
- comic
- frisky
- delighted
- joyous
- giggling
- carefree
- lighthearted
- ecstatic
- beaming
- gladsome
- jubilant
- vivacious
- sportive
- rapturous
- chuckling
- lightsome
- peppy
- upbeat
- blissful
- buoyant
- cheery
- exuberant
- frolicsome
- radiant
- exultant
- euphoric
- cavalier
- jaunty
- hilarious
- thrilled
- enraptured
- chipper
- easygoing
- flippant
- facetious
- overjoyed
- comical
- tickled
- elated
- sprightly
- optimistic
- perky
- ravished
- blessed
- sanguine
- exhilarated
- sprightful
- happy-go-lucky
- zippy
- hopeful
- high
- bouncing
- entranced
- rosy
- riotous
- jesting
- antic
- insouciant
- unconcerned
- farcical
- joshing
- devil-may-care
- uproarious
- blest
- sidesplitting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- blue
- unhappy
- aggrieved
- depressed
- sad
- melancholy
- anguished
- disconsolate
- sorrowful
- heartbroken
- black
- downcast
- dejected
- heartsick
- crying
- glum
- dispirited
- forlorn
- brokenhearted
- abject
- disheartened
- crestfallen
- saddened
- weeping
- disgruntled
- despondent
- downhearted
- sobbing
- wailing
- discontented
- moaning
- gray
- moody
- grey
- dark
- lugubrious
- sorry
- joyless
- mournful
- low-spirited
- doleful
- depressing
- lachrymose
- morose
- sullen
- heavyhearted
- gloomy
- sombre
- cheerless
- somber
- glum
- plaintive
- miserable
- desolate
- woeful
- dismal
- bleak
- dreary
- groaning
- dolorous
- wretched
- woebegone
- saturnine
- comfortless
- lethargic
- listless
- torpid
- dull
- sluggish
4
as in cheerful
having or showing a good mood or disposition with a gay toss of his coat over his shoulder, the dapper old gentleman set off for the party Synonyms & Similar Words
- cheerful
- optimistic
- bright
- gladsome
- blithe
- sunny
- winsome
- smiling
- merry
- joyful
- blithesome
- lightsome
- happy
- animated
- upbeat
- buoyant
- cheery
- careless
- chipper
- jolly
- lively
- grinning
- eupeptic
- satisfied
- laughing
- delighted
- sanguine
- vivacious
- joyous
- hopeful
- jovial
- canty
- cavalier
- carefree
- rosy
- easygoing
- lighthearted
- pleased
- happy-go-lucky
- blissful
- jaunty
- mirthful
- sprightly
- perky
- chirpy
- jocund
- sprightful
- boon
- devil-may-care
- gleeful
- insouciant
- unconcerned
- beaming
- gratified
- tickled
- lilting
- glad
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- morose
- unhappy
- sullen
- sulky
- gloomy
- glum
- sad
- dour
- joyless
- saturnine
- unsatisfied
- blue
- depressed
- lethargic
- disconsolate
- melancholy
- torpid
- sorrowful
- listless
- dull
- sluggish
- downcast
- dejected
- brokenhearted
- forlorn
- disheartened
- inconsolable
- crestfallen
- mirthless
- droopy
- low
- down
- downhearted
- hangdog
- despondent
- low-spirited
- heavyhearted
5
as in cheering
serving to lift one's spirits the skylark's gay song lifted me out of my gloom Synonyms & Similar Words
- cheerful
- cheering
- bright
- cheery
- glad
- sparkling
- heartwarming
- radiant
- heartening
- gleaming
- gladdening
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gray
- grey
- dark
- depressing
- gloomy
- black
- dismal
- bleak
- dreary
- discouraging
- cheerless
- drab
- colorless
- dull
- disheartening
- desolate
- lusterless
- lackluster
- dispiriting
6
as in joyful
joyously unrestrained it was the era of the flappers, and young women were gay, bold, and defiant of convention Synonyms & Similar Words
- joyful
- gamesome
- frolic
- vivacious
- frolicsome
- lyric
- exuberant
- bubbly
- lively
- buoyant
- uninhibited
- ecstatic
- outgoing
- extroverted
- effervescent
- boisterous
- high-spirited
- crank
- giddy
- bouncy
- rowdy
- carefree
- saucy
- lighthearted
- bold
- raucous
- silly
- happy-go-lucky
- rapturous
- sprightly
- overexuberant
- brazen
- insolent
- extraverted
- insouciant
- euphoric
- rollicking
- impudent
- brash
- impertinent
- audacious
- light-headed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- repressed
- sullen
- inhibited
- restrained
- depressed
- low-spirited
- phlegmatic
- subdued
- stoic
- constrained
- stoical
- impassive
- stolid
- morose
- surly
- dour
- glum
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of gay are animated, lively, sprightly, and vivacious. While all these words mean "keenly alive and spirited," gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.
the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s
The words animated and gay can be used in similar contexts, but animated applies to what is spirited and active.
an animated discussion of current events
In some situations, the words lively and gay are roughly equivalent. However, lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.
a lively debate on the issues
While the synonyms sprightly and gay are close in meaning, sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.
a tuneful, sprightly musical
The synonyms vivacious and gay are sometimes interchangeable, but vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.
a vivacious party host