golden
gb/ɡˈoʊldən/ us/ɡˈoʊldən/
A2
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Having the color of gold
Having a bright yellow color like gold.
Usage pattern:
[something] is golden
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'golden' with 'made of gold'. It can mean the color, not necessarily the material.
Synonyms
gold-colored (Directly describes the same color without figurative meaning.)
Antonyms
silver (Refers to a different metallic color, often contrasting with gold.)
Collocations
golden hair
|golden sunlight
|golden leaves
|golden dress
Themes
colors
|appearance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The trophy was golden and shone in the light.
- Her golden dress caught everyone's attention.
- The sunset painted the sky in golden hues.
Learner examples
- The ring is golden.
- He has golden hair.
- The sky is golden at sunset.
adjective
B1
property
2
Very valuable or excellent
Very good or important.
Usage pattern:
[something] is golden
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'golden' instead of other adjectives like 'great' or 'wonderful', making speech sound unnatural.
Synonyms
excellent (General positive evaluation without the metaphorical richness of 'golden'.)
Antonyms
worthless (Describes something with no value or importance.)
Collocations
golden opportunity
|golden chance
|golden rule
|golden years
Themes
success
|quality
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This is a golden opportunity for your career.
- He made a golden contribution to the project.
- The team is in a golden position to win.
Learner examples
- This is a golden chance to learn.
- She gave me golden advice.
- He is in a golden time of his life.
adjective
B1
property
3
Marking a 50th anniversary
About a 50-year anniversary, especially for marriage.
Usage pattern:
[something] is golden
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'golden anniversary' with 'silver anniversary', which marks 25 years.
Synonyms
fiftieth-anniversary (Literal description without the ceremonial tone of 'golden'.)
Collocations
golden wedding anniversary
|golden jubilee
Themes
celebrations
|relationships
|time
Examples
- They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with the whole family.
- The city marked its golden jubilee with fireworks.
- They renewed their vows on their golden anniversary.
Learner examples
- We had a party for our golden anniversary.
- They are happy on their golden wedding day.
- The school had a golden jubilee this year.
adjective
informal
B2
property
4
Lucky or fortunate
Being lucky or in a good situation.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is golden
Common mistake:
Learners may misunderstand and think it refers to color; in this sense it is metaphorical for luck or safety.
Synonyms
fortunate (More formal and less slang-like than 'golden'.)
Antonyms
unlucky (Direct opposite in terms of fortune.)
Collocations
you're golden
|he's golden
Themes
luck
|success
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- If you finish this project on time, you're golden.
- After winning the scholarship, she was golden for her studies.
- Once you sign this deal, you're golden.
Learner examples
- If you pass the test, you are golden.
- You are golden when you have that ticket.
- He is golden after getting the job.
Grammar
Dictionary form
golden
IPA
GB/ɡˈoʊldən/
US/ɡˈoʊldən/
Syllables & stress
golden (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (golden)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: golden
- Comparative: goldener
- Superlative: goldenest
Word family
Forms
goldener
adjective
goldenest
adjective
Core family
gold
noun A2
Advanced or less common
gild
verb
gilded
adjective
goldsmith
noun
Expressions
golden opportunity
1/ɡˈoʊldən ˌɑpɚtˈunɪti/
fixed phrase
A very valuable chance
A very good chance to do something important or helpful.
Examples
- This job offer is a golden opportunity for your career.
- Don't miss this golden opportunity to travel abroad.
golden rule
1/ɡˈoʊldən ɹˈul/
fixed phrase
Most important principle to follow
The most important rule to follow in any situation.
Examples
- The golden rule of cooking pasta is to use plenty of water.
- Treat others as you want to be treated—that’s the golden rule.
silence is golden
1/sˈaɪləns ˈɪz ɡˈoʊldən/
idiom
Sometimes it's best not to talk
It is often better to say nothing than to speak.
Examples
- I wanted to argue, but remembered that silence is golden.
- When emotions run high, silence is golden.
- In some situations, silence is golden.
- He wanted to argue, but remembered that silence is golden.
strike gold
1/stɹˈaɪk ɡˈoʊld/
idiom
informal
Achieve great success or value suddenly
To suddenly become very successful or find something very valuable.
Examples
- They struck gold with their new smartphone app.
- I think we've struck gold with this idea.
strike gold
2/stɹˈaɪk ɡˈoʊld/
idiom
informal
Find great success or profit
To suddenly find or get something very valuable or successful.
Examples
- They struck gold with their new product line.
- We struck gold when we found that new restaurant.
worth its weight in gold
1/wˈɚθ ˈɪts wˈeɪt ˈɪn ɡˈoʊld/
idiom
extremely valuable for size/amount
Very valuable or useful compared to how big it is.
Examples
- This advice is worth its weight in gold.
- This guidebook was worth its weight in gold during our trip.
- A good assistant is worth their weight in gold.
worth its weight in gold
2/wˈɚθ ˈɪts wˈeɪt ˈɪn ɡˈoʊld/
idiom
Extremely valuable or useful
Very useful or helpful, and therefore very valuable.
Examples
- A good teacher is worth their weight in gold.
- This handbook is worth its weight in gold when you travel abroad.