Have you ever wondered about the definition of cloud 9? This article will provide you with all of the info you need on the word cloud 9, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and Collins English Dictionary, the term cloud nine refers to a state of perfect happiness. This state of elation and psychological state of pride feels like the very peak of existence, high above glorious white mountains in the sky.
Someone might feel like they are on cloud no. nine if they win a marathon, are a hero who saves the day, if they get into a school like Princeton University or if they complete a very difficult arithmetic sequence.
What is the origin of the phrase cloud nine?
According to The Idioms free dictionary, the term cloud nine comes from the 1896 edition of the International Cloud Atlas. Here, the types of cloud were assigned a numerical order. The number nine cloud was the cumulonimbus cloud, which is the highest reaching cloud that can rise up to 10km into the sky. Therefore, in a metaphorical sense, being on cloud nine would mean you are on top of a high up cumulonimbus cloud, and on top of the world in these classifications of cloud. There are also postulations that the word cloud nine comes from the ten steps of enlightenment in the Buddhist faith and Buddhism. While this origin is unknown, we know that the phrase has been used since the 1950s. Early examples of the first printed definition of the term were in the Denton Record Chronicle in May 1949 with an article about United States actress Betty Hutton and the Catalina Island yacht race in June 1947 with a yacht called Cloud Nine per the dictionary of American Slang. The term was also popularised by the Johnny Dollar radio show of the early 1950s. This term, along with other such acronyms or abbreviations, often have a murky origin.
What are synonyms and antonyms of cloud nine?
There are many different words that can be used in place of the word cloud nine, called synonyms. Synonyms are words and sometimes phrases that have the same definition as another word or phrase. Learning synonyms is a great way to avoid repeating yourself as well as expand your English language vocabulary. This list of synonyms of cloud nine is provided by Power Thesaurus.
cheer
heaven of heavens
great happiness
optimism
euphoric state
gaiety
celestial throne
well-being
paradise
transport
divine abode
ravishment
ecstasy
beatitude
enjoyment
walking on air
absence of depression
feeling of euphoria
good cheer
bliss
heaven
pleasure
good spirits
joy
blitheness
pig heaven
throne of god
jubilation
cheerfulness
elation
euphoria
cheeriness
carefreeness
enchantment
contentment
idyllic realm
felicity
exuberance
joyousness
blissfulness
seventh heaven
rapture
contentedness
happiness
top of the world
cloud number nine
glee
high spirits
gladness
extreme happiness
exhilaration
joyfulness
delight
perfect contentment
delectation
What are other common idioms in the English language?
There are many different expressions in the English language that are considered idioms. Idioms might be difficult to decipher if English is not your first language, but with this list of common idioms from EF, you will be sure to be an expert on idioms in no time!
Go back to the drawing board – Start over
Your guess is as good as mine – I have no idea
Miss the boat – It’s too late
Bite the bullet – To get something over with because it is inevitable
That’s the last straw – My patience has run out
Speak of the devil – The person we were just talking about showed up!
Cutting corners – Doing something poorly in order to save time or money
Pull someone’s leg – To joke with someone
It’s not rocket science – It’s not complicated
The best of both worlds – An ideal situation
Call it a day – Stop working on something
Give someone the benefit of the doubt – Trust what someone says
Wrap your head around something – Understand something complicated
On the ball – Doing a good job
A blessing in disguise – a good thing that seemed bad at first
A penny saved is a penny earned – Money you save today you can spend later
A perfect storm – the worst possible situation
Cut somebody some slack – Don’t be so critical
You can say that again – That’s true, I agree
No pain, no gain – You have to work for what you want
We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it – Let’s not talk about that problem right now
Make a long story short – Tell something briefly
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush – What you have is worth more than what you might have later
A penny for your thoughts – Tell me what you’re thinking
A picture is worth 1000 words – Better to show than tell
Get out of hand – Get out of control
Time flies when you’re having fun – You don’t notice how long something lasts when it’s fun
To make matters worse – Make a problem worse
Hit the sack – Go to sleep
Break a leg – Good luck
Better late than never – Better to arrive late than not to come at all
Beat around the bush – Avoid saying what you mean, usually because it is uncomfortable
Easy does it – Slow down
To get bent out of shape – To get upset
Get something out of your system – Do the thing you’ve been wanting to do so you can move on
A dime a dozen – Something common
Pull yourself together – Calm down
So far so good – Things are going well so far
Hang in there – Don’t give up
Let someone off the hook – To not hold someone responsible for something
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Kevin 
August 30, 2021 
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