pale
gb/pˈeɪl/ us/pˈeɪl/
A2
English
~ 2500
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Having light or whitish skin color
When a person’s skin looks lighter than normal, often because they are sick, scared, or tired.
Usage pattern:
[someone] looks pale
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pale' with 'fair'; 'fair' refers to natural light skin tone, while 'pale' often suggests a change from the usual tone due to a condition.
Synonyms
wan (More literary and suggests weakness or exhaustion.)
Antonyms
flushed (Describes skin that is red, often from heat, embarrassment, or exertion.)
Collocations
look pale
|turn pale
|pale face
|pale complexion
Themes
health
|appearance
|daily life
|body
|emotions
Examples
- She looked pale after hearing the bad news.
- His face turned pale when he saw the accident.
- You’re looking a bit pale—are you feeling alright?
- The child went pale with fear.
- He was pale from working all night without rest.
Learner examples
- She looks pale today.
- He is pale because he is sick.
- My friend turns pale when he is scared.
- The boy is pale after the long trip.
adjective
A2
property
2
Light in color or shade
When a color is not strong or bright but soft and light.
Usage pattern:
pale [color]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'light' instead of 'pale'; 'light' is fine, but 'pale' often suggests even less intensity and sometimes a faded look.
Synonyms
pastel (Refers specifically to soft, light shades, often in design or art contexts.)
Antonyms
vivid (Describes colors that are very bright and strong.)
Collocations
pale blue
|pale yellow
|pale green
|pale light
Themes
colors
|art
|design
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She wore a pale blue dress to the wedding.
- The walls were painted a pale yellow to create a warm feeling.
- A pale light came through the curtains.
- The sky turned a pale pink at dawn.
- He chose a pale green for the nursery.
Learner examples
- I like pale blue shirts.
- The room is painted pale yellow.
- Her bag is pale pink.
- We saw pale green leaves in spring.
Verb
B1
action
3
To lose normal skin color
When someone’s skin changes to a lighter color because they are afraid, sick, or shocked.
Usage pattern:
[someone] pales
Synonyms
blanch (More formal or literary; also used metaphorically.)
Antonyms
flush (To become red in the face, often from heat or emotion.)
Collocations
pale visibly
|pale suddenly
Themes
health
|emotions
|body
Examples
- She paled when she heard the explosion.
- He visibly paled at the sight of blood.
- I could see him pale as the news sank in.
Learner examples
- She paled when she saw the snake.
- He paled after running too fast.
- I pale when I am scared.
Noun
literary
C1
entity
4
A boundary marked by stakes or fence
A fence made from wooden posts, or the area inside it (not common in daily speech).
Synonyms
enclosure (General term for an area that is fenced in.)
Collocations
beyond the pale
Themes
history
|geography
|space
|housing
Examples
- In medieval times, towns were surrounded by a pale for protection.
- The cattle were kept within the pale.
- They lived beyond the pale of settlement.
Learner examples
- The farm had a pale around it.
- A pale was built to keep animals inside.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pale
IPA
GB/pˈeɪl/
US/pˈeɪl/
Syllables & stress
pale (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (pale)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: pale
- Comparative: paler
- Superlative: palest
Noun
- Base: pale
- Plural: pales
Verb
- Base: pale
- 3rd Person Singular: pales
- Present Participle: paling
- Past: paled
Word family
Expressions
beyond the pale
1/bɪjˈɔnd ðə pˈeɪl/
idiom
literary
Outside acceptable behavior or limits
Not acceptable; going too far in behavior or action.
Examples
- His comments were offensive and beyond the pale.
- Cheating in an exam is beyond the pale.