nice
gb/nˈaɪs/ us/nˈaɪs/
A1
English
~ 800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A1
property
1
pleasant and agreeable
Good and enjoyable; making people feel happy or pleased.
Usage pattern:
[something] is nice
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes overuse 'nice' instead of choosing a more precise adjective like 'beautiful', 'kind', or 'delicious'.
Synonyms
pleasant (More formal and neutral; often used for experiences and situations.)
|
agreeable (Slightly formal; suggests suitability or likability.)
Antonyms
unpleasant (Opposite in meaning; describes something that causes discomfort or dislike.)
|
nasty (Informal; strongly negative and unpleasant.)
Collocations
nice day
|nice person
|nice place
|nice time
|nice weather
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It was a nice day for a walk in the park.
- She’s a nice person who always helps her neighbors.
- We had a nice time at the party.
- That’s a really nice dress you’re wearing.
- The hotel had a nice view of the ocean.
Learner examples
- It is a nice day today.
- She is a nice teacher.
- We had a nice meal.
- He lives in a nice house.
- This park is nice.
adjective
A1
property
2
kind and considerate
Kind and friendly to other people.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is nice to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'nice' in this sense with 'good' when talking about skills rather than personality.
Synonyms
kind (Emphasizes caring and helpfulness.)
|
friendly (Focuses on warmth and openness toward others.)
Antonyms
mean (Describes someone who is unkind or cruel.)
|
rude (Describes someone who is impolite or disrespectful.)
Collocations
nice to meet you
|nice of you
|be nice to
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It was nice of you to help her with her bags.
- He’s always nice to everyone at work.
- She’s been really nice since we met.
- That’s not very nice of you to say.
- They were nice enough to give us directions.
Learner examples
- You are nice to your friends.
- He is nice to his little sister.
- It was nice of you to call.
- She is always nice to me.
- They are nice to new students.
adjective
A2
property
3
satisfactory or acceptable quality
Good in quality; okay or acceptable.
Usage pattern:
[something] is nice for [purpose]
Synonyms
good (Broadly positive; less specific than 'excellent'.)
|
decent (Informal; adequate but not outstanding.)
Antonyms
poor (Low in quality or standard.)
|
bad (Generally unsatisfactory.)
Collocations
nice job
|nice work
|nice effort
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- You did a nice job on this report.
- That was a nice effort in the game today.
- She made a nice recovery after her injury.
- This camera takes nice pictures.
- He has a nice singing voice.
Learner examples
- You did a nice job.
- This is a nice photo.
- She wrote a nice letter.
- He made a nice cake.
- That was a nice try.
adjective
B2
property
4
subtle and precise detail
Needing care and attention because it is small, exact, or delicate.
Synonyms
subtle (Suggests small but important differences.)
|
precise (Emphasizes exactness and accuracy.)
Antonyms
crude (Lacking detail or refinement.)
|
imprecise (Not exact or accurate.)
Collocations
nice distinction
|nice balance
|nice point
Themes
science
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It’s a nice distinction, but an important one for legal purposes.
- Achieving the right flavor requires a nice balance of spices.
- His argument depends on some rather nice points of logic.
Learner examples
- This is a nice point in the story.
- The chef made a nice mix of tastes.
- It is a nice balance of colors.
Grammar
Dictionary form
nice
IPA
GB/nˈaɪs/
US/nˈaɪs/
Syllables & stress
nice (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (nice)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: nice
- Comparative: nicer
- Superlative: nicest
Word family
Forms
nicer
adjective
nicest
adjective
Core family
nicely
adverb A2
niceness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
nasty
adjective B1
unpleasant
adjective B1
Advanced or less common
nicety
noun
Expressions
be nice to someone
1/bˈi nˈaɪs tə sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
treat someone kindly and respectfully
To treat someone in a kind and respectful way.
Examples
- Be nice to your sister!
- He’s always been nice to me, even when others weren’t.
have a nice day
1/hˈæv ə nˈaɪs dˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
wish someone an enjoyable day ahead
Used to say goodbye and express hope that the person will enjoy their day.
Examples
- Thanks for coming. Have a nice day!
- The cashier smiled and said, 'Have a nice day.'
make nice (with someone)
1/mˈeɪk nˈaɪs wˈɪθ sˈʌmwˌʌn/
idiom
informal
be friendly after conflict
To behave in a friendly way toward someone after an argument or problem.
Examples
- They finally made nice with each other after years of fighting.
- The company made nice with its critics by changing its policy.
nice to meet you
1/nˈaɪs tə mˈit jˈu/
fixed phrase
pleasure at first meeting someone
Used when you meet someone for the first time to show that you are happy to meet them.
Examples
- ‘Nice to meet you,’ he said with a smile.
- Hello, I’m Sarah. Nice to meet you!
- It’s nice to meet you at last.
- It’s been great talking on the phone—nice to meet you in person.