a cry of joy

USAGE SUMMARY

"a cry of joy" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe the sound or expression someone makes when feeling a strong sense of happiness or excitement. Example: As the final whistle blew, the entire stadium erupted into a deafening cry of joy, celebrating their team's victory.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

eu·re·ka: a cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds or discovers something.

University of California, Berkeley

He raised his hands to the sky and let out a cry of joy.

The New Yorker

Spotting the shoe box, she scooped it up with a cry of joy.

The New York Times

He lets out a cry of joy as a Nadal return goes long.

The Guardian - Sport

If someone does make it to England and gets word back, a cry of joy goes up all around the camp.

The Guardian

Although he was married three times, by all accounts happily, and widowed twice, his voluminous archive contains, in Harlan's words, "not a single love letter, nor a cry of joy".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

When each card was dealt, a collective cry of joy or horror went up and players pounded on their video tabletop.

The New York Times

He also revealed that he "let out a little cry of joy" when David Bowie urged Scottish voters to reject independence, because the singer "might be able to reach parts of Scotland that perhaps I can't".

BBC

Look for the next installment in the series on July 5. World | U.S. | Health | Sports | Technology | Arts | Education 17 Days in Darkness, a Cry of 'Save Me,' and Joy and Bangladesh Survivor Leaves Hospital With Job Reshma Begum, who survived for 17 days in the rubble of a collapsed garment factory, fielded many job offers before accepting work at the Westin Hotel in Dhaka.

The New York Times

The orchestra delivers a climactic commentary that sounds simultaneously like a shout of joy and a cry for help.

The New Yorker

The dry air abruptly rang with the zagrouta — the Arab woman's traditional shrill cry of joy, which is usually uttered at times of family happiness like weddings.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a cry of joy" to depict a spontaneous, vocal expression of intense happiness. It's most effective when illustrating moments of triumph, relief, or unexpected positive outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "a cry of joy" in highly formal or professional writing where a more subdued expression of happiness might be more appropriate. Opt for alternatives like "a sense of satisfaction" or "delight" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a cry of joy" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It describes a specific type of vocal expression, indicating a strong feeling of happiness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a cry of joy" is a grammatically sound noun phrase that describes a vocal expression of intense happiness. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and readily usable in written English. It's most commonly found in news and media sources, indicating a neutral register suitable for various contexts. While it effectively conveys spontaneity and intense emotion, its use in formal settings should be carefully considered, with alternatives preferred to maintain a professional tone. Related phrases like "a shout of joy" or "a burst of joy" offer nuanced variations for expressing similar feelings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a shout of joy

Replaces "cry" with "shout", implying a louder expression of happiness.

a burst of joy

Uses "burst" to suggest a sudden and intense expression of joy.

a cry of delight

Substitutes "joy" with "delight", offering a slightly more refined tone.

a gleeful shout

Combines "gleeful", conveying happiness, with "shout", an exclamation.

an exultant cry

Replaces "joy" with "exultant", indicating triumphant happiness.

a joyful exclamation

Uses "exclamation" to describe a vocal expression of joy.

a cry of happiness

Directly replaces "joy" with the more general term "happiness".

a whoop of joy

Replaces "cry" with "whoop", suggesting a boisterous expression.

a cheer of joy

Uses "cheer" to denote a celebratory expression of happiness.

a joyful outburst

Replaces "cry" with "outburst", emphasizing a spontaneous display of emotion.

FAQs

How can I use "a cry of joy" in a sentence?

You can use "a cry of joy" to describe someone expressing great happiness vocally. For example, "He let out a cry of joy when he heard the news".

What phrases are similar to "a cry of joy"?

Similar phrases include "a shout of joy", "a burst of joy", and "a cry of delight", all conveying strong positive emotions.

Is it appropriate to use "a cry of joy" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a cry of joy" might be too informal for some formal contexts. Consider using alternatives like "a sense of satisfaction" or expressing the emotion in a more understated manner.

What's the difference between "a cry of joy" and "tears of joy"?

"A cry of joy" refers to a vocal expression of happiness, while "tears of joy" describes expressing happiness through crying. One is auditory, and the other is visual.