Meaning 1
Pleased and relieved about a particular event or fact.
Reach for it when expressing simple personal happiness, gratitude, or welcome
We are glad the footbridge reopened before the school term.
Meaning 2
Willing to do something with genuine pleasure.
Reach for it when offering help or agreement in a warm, uncomplicated way
Iris was glad to show the new volunteer where the supplies belonged.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| everyday | ||
| warm |
|
|
| professional | ||
| formal |
everyday
Fits when general positive feeling is the natural choice
Careful Happy can describe a lasting state; glad usually responds to something specific.
everyday
relieved
Fits when the good feeling comes from danger or worry ending
Careful Relief can occur without joy, which glad normally includes.
warm
Fits when the happiness is strong and openly felt
Careful Delighted overstates mild relief or quiet approval.
professional
Fits when approval or satisfaction should sound measured
Careful Pleased is more reserved and may feel distant in an emotional reunion.
everyday
Fits when anticipation and readiness are stronger than simple willingness
Careful Eager may promise more enthusiasm than the person actually feels.
warm
happy to
Fits when a friendly offer should sound natural and current
Careful In repeated business copy, happy to can become formulaic and vague.
professional
Fits when consent or readiness matters more than emotion
Careful Willing may be reluctant; glad to help signals pleasure.
formal
Fits when someone is open to a proposal or request
Careful Amenable sounds detached and does not convey pleasure.
glad to hear
We are glad to hear that the treatment is helping.
glad you came
We are glad you came, even though the visit was brief.
glad to help
The librarian was glad to help locate the missing record.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
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