homely
gb/hˈoʊmli/ us/hˈoʊmli/
B2
English
~ 6900
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
physically plain or unattractive
Describes a person who is not good-looking or is quite plain in the face or body.
Usage pattern:
a homely [person/face]
Common mistake:
Many learners think 'homely' is positive, like 'comfortable' or 'cozy', because it looks like 'home'. In American English, this meaning is usually negative and describes someone who is not attractive. To say something is comfortable or cozy, use 'homey' or 'cozy', not 'homely'.
Synonyms
plain (Softer and more common; suggests not very attractive but not strongly negative.)
|
unattractive (More direct and neutral; clearly states a lack of physical appeal.)
|
not good-looking (Informal and gentle; often used to avoid sounding too critical.)
Antonyms
attractive (General opposite, suggesting pleasing physical appearance.)
|
good-looking (Stresses clear physical appeal, often used for people.)
Collocations
homely face
|homely woman
|rather homely
|a bit homely
|look homely
|plain and homely
Themes
appearance
|people
|descriptions
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She was a bit homely, but her kindness made everyone love her.
- As a teenager he felt too short, too shy, and hopelessly homely.
- The critic called the actor "charming but homely," which upset many fans.
- He always thought of himself as the homely one in the family.
- The role required a naturally homely actress rather than a glamorous star.
Learner examples
- He is smart, but he is a little homely.
- She felt homely next to her very beautiful sister.
- The man is homely, but he has a very warm smile.
- Some people think they are homely, but other people do not agree.
- The character in the story is homely but very kind.
unknown
B2
property
2
simple, cozy, like a home
Describes a room or place that feels warm, friendly, and comfortable, like your own home.
Usage pattern:
a homely [room/house/atmosphere]
Common mistake:
Learners often do not realize that this warm, positive meaning of 'homely' is more common in British and some other varieties of English, while in American English 'homely' usually means 'unattractive'. To avoid confusion, many speakers now prefer 'homey' or 'cozy' for this sense, especially in international contexts.
Synonyms
homey (Very close in meaning; more common in American English spelling and clearly positive.)
|
cozy (Focuses more on warmth and comfort, not always on simplicity.)
|
comfortable (Broader and more general; does not always suggest a simple, lived‑in feeling.)
Antonyms
impersonal (Describes a place that does not feel warm or welcoming.)
|
cold (Suggests a place that feels unfriendly or lacks warmth and comfort.)
Collocations
homely atmosphere
|homely little house
|warm and homely
|homely feel
|small and homely
|homely kitchen
Themes
home
|descriptions
|daily life
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They run a small, homely hotel that many guests return to every year.
- The cottage was old and a bit worn, but it had a wonderfully homely feel.
- Soft lighting and old wooden furniture made the café pleasantly homely.
- Despite its central location, the flat managed to feel quiet and homely.
- She wanted the office to seem less formal and more homely for the staff.
Learner examples
- The living room is small but very homely.
- They decorated the house with plants to make it more homely.
- I like this café because it feels homely and relaxed.
- The old chairs make the room look homely and warm.
- Her kitchen is not modern, but it is homely.
adjective
C1
property
3
simple, plain, not fancy
Describes things that are plain and simple, not rich, fancy, or stylish.
Usage pattern:
homely [food/clothes/style]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix this sense with the negative appearance sense and avoid 'homely' completely. In contexts about food, clothes, or style, 'homely' usually means simple and plain, not ugly. Words like 'plain', 'simple', or 'unpretentious' are safer and more widely understood.
Synonyms
plain (Very close in meaning; emphasizes a lack of decoration or style.)
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simple (Highlights that something is easy and not complex; can be positive or negative depending on context.)
|
unpretentious (Stresses that something is simple without trying to seem important or special.)
Antonyms
fancy (Suggests something is decorated, stylish, or expensive, the opposite of plain and simple.)
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luxurious (Focuses on high quality and comfort, usually expensive and special rather than everyday.)
Collocations
homely food
|homely cooking
|homely meal
|homely clothes
|homely style
|homely virtues
Themes
lifestyle
|food
|clothing
|descriptions
|daily_life
|food_drink
Examples
- They served a homely meal of soup, bread, and cheese.
- Her designs are homely rather than fashionable, but people find them comforting.
- The restaurant is known for its homely cooking and generous portions.
- He prefers homely clothes that are comfortable and practical.
- The book celebrates the homely virtues of patience, thrift, and hard work.
Learner examples
- We ate a homely dinner with soup and bread.
- She likes homely clothes that she can wear every day.
- The café offers simple, homely food.
- I enjoy homely cooking like my mother made for me.
- The show talks about homely values like saving money and helping family.
adjective
C1
property
4
simple, informal, unsophisticated person
Describes a person who is natural and simple, not stylish or high-class, and often warm and friendly.
Usage pattern:
a homely [man/woman/family/person]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this always means 'ugly', but when used about character or behavior it can be positive or neutral, meaning simple and friendly. Because of the strong negative appearance meaning in some dialects, many speakers now prefer 'down-to-earth' or 'unpretentious' to avoid confusion.
Synonyms
down-to-earth (Very close; emphasizes practicality and lack of show‑off behavior.)
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unpretentious (Focuses on not trying to seem more important or stylish than one is.)
|
simple (Can have a similar meaning, but may also sound negative or suggest a lack of intelligence if used carelessly.)
Antonyms
sophisticated (Describes people who are polished, worldly, and stylish, the opposite of simple and homely in manner.)
|
pretentious (Opposite in attitude; shows off and tries to seem more important or high-class.)
Collocations
homely woman
|homely family
|homely manners
|kind and homely
|quiet, homely people
|homely country folk
Themes
people
|personality
|social life
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He came from a very homely family who valued honesty over status.
- In person, the famous writer was surprisingly homely and approachable.
- They are homely, hard‑working people who rarely travel far from their village.
- Her homely manners made guests feel relaxed and welcome.
- Despite his success, he has remained a homely sort of man.
Learner examples
- They are homely people who live a quiet life.
- The singer is rich, but she is still homely and friendly.
- He has homely manners and always makes guests feel relaxed.
- Her parents are homely farmers from a small town.
- The leader seems homely, not formal or proud.
Grammar
Dictionary form
homely
IPA
GB/hˈoʊmli/
US/hˈoʊmli/
Syllables & stress
homely (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (homely)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: homely
- Comparative: homelier
- Superlative: homeliest
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.