verb · formal
gladden
/ˈɡlædn/GLAD·den
Band 6-7speakingtask2
to make someone feel happy or pleased
Examples
“The unexpected donation gladdened the whole community.”
“I was gladdened to hear that my former teacher had recovered.”
“Small successes often gladden students and encourage them to try harder.”
Band 8 sentence
“The generous community response gladdened organisers and demonstrated local solidarity in difficult times.”
Collocations
- gladden someone's heart
- be gladdened by
Word family
gladden verbgladdened adjective / past participlegladdening adjectivegladness noun
Common mistakes
This news glads me.→This news gladdens me.
I was gladded by the results.→I was gladdened by the results.
Say it for a higher band
5make happy→6brighten→7+gladden
Synonyms
cheer up
delight
Easily confused
glad
“I am glad to hear that you passed the exam.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In -en
Learn it with its set