invitingly
gb/ɪnvɪtɪŋli/ us/ɪnvɪtɪŋli/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
in a welcoming, attractive way
In a way that makes people want to come in or join.
Usage pattern:
[someone] smiles/gestures/looks invitingly; [place] looks invitingly [adjective]
Common mistake:
Don’t use it to mean simply “nicely” or “kindly”; it usually means “welcoming/attractive enough to make you want to come or do something.”
Synonyms
welcomingly (More direct about making someone feel welcome.)
|
appealingly (Emphasizes attractiveness rather than welcome.)
|
enticingly (Suggests a stronger pull or temptation.)
Antonyms
unwelcomingly (Makes someone feel not welcome.)
|
unappealingly (Looks unattractive or discouraging.)
Collocations
smile invitingly
|gesture invitingly
|look invitingly
|sit invitingly
|wait invitingly
|hold (the door) invitingly
|wave invitingly
|lean invitingly
|open invitingly
|beckon invitingly
Themes
social_interaction
|places
|emotions
Examples
- She smiled invitingly and moved her bag so I could sit down.
- The little bookstore looked invitingly bright from the rainy street.
- He held the door open invitingly, as if expecting us to follow.
Learner examples
- The café looked invitingly warm.
- She smiled invitingly at me.
adverb
B2
property
2
in a tempting, appetizing way
In a way that makes you want to eat or try something.
Usage pattern:
[food/smell] looks/smells invitingly; [something] is invitingly [adjective]
Common mistake:
With food, it usually describes appearance or smell, not taste (you can’t know taste until you try it).
Synonyms
temptingly (Stronger sense of temptation.)
|
appetizingly (Specifically about food being appealing.)
|
deliciously (Often implies taste, not just appearance or smell.)
Antonyms
unappetizingly (Makes food seem unpleasant.)
|
off-puttingly (Creates a negative reaction or dislike.)
Collocations
smell invitingly
|look invitingly
|invitingly crisp
|invitingly golden
|invitingly fresh
|invitingly soft
|invitingly sweet
|invitingly spiced
|invitingly warm
|invitingly fragrant
Themes
food_and_drink
|senses
Examples
- The bread smelled invitingly as it baked in the oven.
- The soup arrived steaming and invitingly fragrant.
- A plate of invitingly golden pastries sat on the counter.
Learner examples
- The cookies smelled invitingly.
- The cake looked invitingly soft.
Grammar
Dictionary form
invitingly
IPA
GB/ɪnvɪtɪŋli/
US/ɪnvɪtɪŋli/
Syllables & stress
in - vit - ingly (3 syllables)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: invitingly
- Plural: invitinglies
Word family
Forms
invitinglies
noun
Core family
Related words
invitee
noun
Negative and opposite forms
uninviting
adjective
uninvitingly
adverb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.