delightful
gb/dɪlˈaɪtfəl/ us/dɪlˈaɪtfəl/
B1
English
~ 2400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Very pleasing or enjoyable
Very nice and making you feel happy.
Usage pattern:
[something] is delightful
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'delightful' with 'delighted'. 'Delightful' describes something that gives pleasure, while 'delighted' describes a person feeling pleasure.
Synonyms
charming (Emphasizes attractiveness and pleasant qualities, sometimes in a gentle or elegant way.)
|
lovely (More common in British English and can also mean beautiful.)
Antonyms
unpleasant (Direct opposite, meaning not enjoyable or causing discomfort.)
|
disagreeable (More formal; emphasizes being unpleasant or offensive.)
Collocations
absolutely delightful
|delightful surprise
|delightful person
|delightful experience
|delightful weather
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The garden was full of delightful flowers in every color.
- We had a delightful afternoon at the park.
- She is a delightful host who makes everyone feel welcome.
- The movie was a delightful mix of humor and romance.
- It was a delightful surprise to see my old friend.
Learner examples
- The cake is delightful.
- We had a delightful day.
- Her smile is delightful.
- The music is delightful.
- This book is delightful.
Grammar
Dictionary form
delightful
IPA
GB/dɪlˈaɪtfəl/
US/dɪlˈaɪtfəl/
Syllables & stress
de - light - ful (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (light)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: delightful
Word family
Core family
Expressions
a delightful surprise
1/ə dɪlˈaɪtfəl səpɹˈaɪz/
fixed phrase
A very pleasing unexpected thing
Something nice that you did not expect.
Examples
- Finding an old letter from my grandmother was a delightful surprise.
- It was a delightful surprise to see them at the party.
absolutely delightful
1/ˌæbsəlˈutli dɪlˈaɪtfəl/
fixed phrase
Extremely enjoyable or charming
Very, very nice and enjoyable.
Examples
- The dinner was absolutely delightful.
- She looked absolutely delightful in her new dress.