a wave of joy

USAGE SUMMARY

"a wave of joy" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a sudden and intense feeling of happiness or excitement, similar to the way a wave in the ocean rises and falls. Example: As she walked into the room, a wave of joy washed over her as she saw all her friends and family gathered to celebrate her birthday.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Last year, Oxford Dictionaries announced that its word of the year was an emoji – specifically, the "Face with Tears of Joy" emoji, a symbol that could represent a fit of laughter or a wave of joy.

Huffington Post

It was just a wave of joy, and I told Ann: 'I will.

The New York Times - Magazine

A wave of joy can make it difficult to sit still.

The New Yorker

Mr. Engel paused and grinned as a wave of joy rose up from Tahrir Square below him.

The New York Times

The two grandmothers talked to each other in a joint radio interview after the DNA results were announced, as a wave of joy swept across the nation.

The Guardian

All centaurs are made this way, he told me, feeling every germination, animal, human, or vegetable, as a wave of joy running through their veins.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

In that moment my life shifted forever as an intense wave of joy filled every cell in my body.

Huffington Post

I tried to give Z. room to dance but he held me tight, making me move alongside him, his flank hot against mine, his arm hot against my back, so that I felt myself swept by a wave of happiness or joy, my face stretched stupidly in a grin.

The New Yorker

A group cheer was making its way in a vocal tidal wave of joy.

Huffington Post

"Don't you have a lot of praise for the Lord, like the choir does today?" he yelled, and a wave of amens and shouts of joy answered back.

The New York Times

So who will win the World Cup? Having been in Rio for England's friendly at the refurbished Maracana in May, Brazil will be swept along on a wave of contrasting emotions - joy when the style is there but noisy frustration when it is missing.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a wave of joy" to describe a sudden, intense feeling of happiness or excitement. It's often associated with positive events or experiences.

Common error

Avoid using "a wave of joy" for mild contentment. This phrase suggests a significant emotional experience, not a subtle feeling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wave of joy" functions as a noun phrase that acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirmed, it's grammatically correct and describes a sudden and intense feeling. Examples show it depicting reactions to significant positive events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a wave of joy" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe a sudden and intense feeling of happiness. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase vividly depicts an overwhelming emotion, similar to how a wave powerfully washes over something. Its usage spans across various contexts, predominantly in News & Media, indicating its broad applicability. While versatile, it's best reserved for moments of genuine and significant happiness. Alternatives such as ""a surge of happiness"" or ""a burst of elation"" can provide nuanced variations, but the key is to align the phrase with the actual intensity of the emotion being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a surge of happiness

Replaces "joy" with "happiness" and "wave" with "surge", emphasizing the sudden rush of emotion.

a burst of elation

Substitutes "joy" with "elation" and "wave" with "burst", suggesting a more explosive and intense feeling.

a flood of happiness

Uses "flood" instead of "wave" to convey an overwhelming and abundant sensation of happiness.

a rush of delight

Replaces "joy" with "delight" and "wave" with "rush", highlighting the quick and pleasurable sensation.

an upwelling of joy

Substitutes "wave" with "upwelling", indicating a feeling rising from within.

a tide of happiness

Replaces "wave" with "tide", emphasizing the cyclical and potentially enduring nature of the feeling.

a moment of pure joy

Focuses on the intensity and purity of the joy experienced at a specific time.

an overwhelming sense of joy

Emphasizes the overpowering nature of the feeling of joy.

a powerful wave of emotion

Broadens the scope to any strong emotion, not specifically joy, maintaining the wave metaphor.

a feeling of exhilaration

Replaces "joy" with "exhilaration", emphasizing the excitement and invigoration of the feeling.

FAQs

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

You can use "a wave of joy" to describe an intense feeling of happiness, as in, "A wave of joy washed over her when she saw her family after many years".

What are some alternatives to "a wave of joy"?

Alternatives include "a surge of happiness", "a burst of elation", or "a flood of happiness", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Yes, "a wave of joy" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, though its impact is strongest when describing genuinely significant positive emotions.

What's the difference between "a wave of joy" and "a feeling of happiness"?

"A wave of joy" implies a sudden, overwhelming experience, whereas "a feeling of happiness" is more general and can describe a milder, more sustained emotion.