beautiful
gb/bjˈutɪfəl/ us/bjˈutɪfəl/
A1
English
~ 1200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A1
property
1
Pleasing in appearance
Very nice to look at; pretty or lovely.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is beautiful
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'beautiful' with 'pretty'. 'Beautiful' can be stronger and more formal, and can apply to more than just people, such as places or experiences.
Synonyms
attractive (A general term for being pleasant to look at; less intense than 'beautiful'.)
|
lovely (Softer and warmer than 'beautiful', often used for people and nature.)
Antonyms
ugly (Unpleasant or unattractive in appearance.)
Collocations
beautiful scenery
|beautiful woman
|beautiful dress
|beautiful city
|beautiful smile
Themes
appearance
|emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The sunset over the ocean was absolutely beautiful.
- She wore a beautiful red dress to the party.
- It’s a beautiful day to go for a walk.
- The garden looks beautiful in the spring.
- He has a beautiful smile that makes people feel welcome.
Learner examples
- The flowers are beautiful.
- Your house is beautiful.
- This park is beautiful.
- She is a beautiful girl.
- It is a beautiful day.
adjective
A2
property
2
Pleasing in a non-visual way
Very nice or enjoyable in a way that makes you happy.
Usage pattern:
[something] is beautiful
Common mistake:
Some learners overuse 'beautiful' only for appearance, forgetting it can describe sounds, feelings, or experiences.
Synonyms
wonderful (A general term for something very good or enjoyable; broader than 'beautiful'.)
|
delightful (Pleasant and charming in a gentle way.)
Antonyms
terrible (Extremely bad or unpleasant.)
Collocations
beautiful music
|beautiful story
|beautiful moment
|beautiful idea
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It was a beautiful moment when they finally reunited.
- The choir sang a beautiful song.
- We had a beautiful day together.
- That’s a beautiful idea for the project.
Learner examples
- The music is beautiful.
- It was a beautiful time with my family.
- She told me a beautiful story.
- That is a beautiful idea.
Grammar
Dictionary form
beautiful
IPA
GB/bjˈutɪfəl/
US/bjˈutɪfəl/
Syllables & stress
beau - ti - ful (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (beau)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: beautiful
Word family
Core family
beauty
noun A2
beautifully
adverb B1
Related words
beautify
verb B2
beautician
noun
Negative and opposite forms
ugly
adjective A2
unattractive
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
beautification
noun
Expressions
beautiful day
1/bjˈutɪfəl dˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
A day with lovely conditions
A day with nice weather or that feels very good to experience.
Examples
- It’s such a beautiful day—let’s go outside!
- We spent the whole beautiful day at the beach.
beautiful inside and out
1/bjˈutɪfəl ˈɪnsˌaɪd ˈænd ˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
Attractive physically and in personality
A person who looks nice and also has a kind, good personality.
Examples
- She is beautiful inside and out, always helping others and smiling.
- Everyone says he is beautiful inside and out.
make something beautiful
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmθɪŋ bjˈutɪfəl/
fixed phrase
Improve to make attractive or pleasing
To change something so it looks or feels very nice.
Examples
- They worked hard to make the garden beautiful.
- Artists can make something beautiful out of simple materials.