benevolence
gb/bənˈɛvələns/ us/bənˈɛvələns/
C1
Inglés
~ 7300
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo
formal
C1
property
1
kind and generous attitude
A warm, kind feeling that makes a person want to help and do good for other people.
Patrón de uso:
[someone]'s benevolence toward [someone/something]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse "benevolence" with "benefit" or "bonus" because of the similar spelling. "Benevolence" is an attitude of kindness, while a "benefit" or a "bonus" is a useful or extra thing that someone receives.
Sinónimos
kindness (More general and common; can describe single actions as well as attitude, and is less formal.)
|
goodwill (Emphasizes friendly, positive feelings, sometimes in a social or business context, not always active help.)
|
charity (Often suggests helping people in need, sometimes with money; can sound more external than the inner attitude of benevolence.)
Antónimos
malevolence (Direct opposite; means having a desire to harm others instead of to help them.)
|
hostility (Focuses on strong unfriendliness and opposition, rather than a kind, helpful attitude.)
Colocaciones
show benevolence
|known for his benevolence
|pure benevolence
|benevolence toward others
|act of benevolence
|gesture of benevolence
Temas
emotions
|character
|social
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- His quiet benevolence earned him the trust of everyone in the village.
- They spoke of the queen's benevolence toward refugees fleeing the war.
- The company tries to balance profit with a sense of benevolence toward the local community.
- Her eyes shone with benevolence as she welcomed the children inside.
- Many people were moved by the sheer benevolence behind her decision to forgive them.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The old man showed great benevolence to his neighbors.
- People respected her for her benevolence and patience.
- The teacher’s benevolence made the students feel safe.
- His benevolence toward animals was clear to everyone.
- They thanked her for her benevolence during a hard time.
Sustantivo
formal
C1
action
2
kind and helpful action
A single helpful and generous action that is done to be kind to someone.
Patrón de uso:
an act of benevolence toward [someone]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "benevolence" where a more natural phrase like "a good deed" or "a kind act" would sound better in everyday speech. "Benevolence" for a single action is correct but quite formal and is more common in writing.
Sinónimos
good deed (More everyday and informal; clearly describes one helpful action, often with a moral tone.)
|
kindness (Very common and simple; can mean either an action or the general quality, while this sense of "benevolence" focuses on a specific act.)
Antónimos
cruelty (Stresses actions that cause pain or suffering instead of help or comfort.)
Colocaciones
an act of benevolence
|small benevolences
|random benevolence
|benevolence toward strangers
Temas
social
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- As a simple act of benevolence, the neighbors cooked meals for the family after the fire.
- The anonymous donation was seen as a remarkable benevolence toward the struggling school.
- He never forgot the small benevolence a stranger showed him when he first arrived in the city.
- Their holiday project is meant to share little benevolences with people who live alone.
- Volunteering at the shelter became a regular benevolence rather than a one-time gesture.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- She did an act of benevolence for her sick friend.
- The gift was a benevolence to the poor family.
- He thanked them for their benevolence after the accident.
- Each letter of support felt like a small benevolence.
- Helping the old woman carry her bags was a simple benevolence.
Sustantivo
archaic
C2
entity
3
old term for royal tax
An old word in British history for money that a king asked people to pay as a gift, even though they could not easily refuse.
Patrón de uso:
a benevolence imposed by the king
Error frecuente:
Learners may think this historical "benevolence" means kindness, but in history texts it refers to a kind of royal tax or payment.
Sinónimos
forced loan (A modern descriptive term that explains the practical effect, though it is not the historical name.)
Antónimos
voluntary contribution (Highlights that a benevolence was not truly voluntary, unlike a freely chosen payment.)
Colocaciones
raise a benevolence
|impose a benevolence
|royal benevolence
|extraordinary benevolence
Temas
history
|politics
|law
Ejemplos
- To fund his campaign, the king imposed a benevolence on the wealthier towns.
- The historian argues that the so‑called benevolence was little more than a thinly disguised tax.
- Merchants protested the new benevolence as an abuse of royal power.
- Parliament objected when the monarch tried to raise money through a benevolence instead of legal taxation.
- The crown relied on irregular devices like benevolences to fill its empty treasury.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- In the past, an English king could ask for a benevolence from rich people.
- The benevolence was unpopular because people felt they could not say no.
- A benevolence was not a normal tax, but it still brought money to the king.
- The king used a benevolence to pay for his war.
- Some lords refused to pay the benevolence.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
benevolence
AFI
GB/bənˈɛvələns/
US/bənˈɛvələns/
Sílabas y acento
be - ne - vol - ence (4 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ne)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: benevolence
- Plural: benevolence
Familia de palabras
Core family
benevolent
adjective B2
Related words
benevolently
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
malevolence
noun
malevolent
adjective
Expresiones
an act of benevolence
1/ən ˈækt əv bənˈɛvələns/
fixed phrase
formal
single helpful kind action
One clear action that shows kindness and a wish to help someone.
Ejemplos
- Paying for the stranger’s meal was a simple act of benevolence.
- The letter described the rescue as an extraordinary act of benevolence.
- Every small act of benevolence makes the city a better place.
benevolence and goodwill
1/bənˈɛvələns ˈænd ɡˈʊdwˈɪl/
fixed phrase
formal
kindness and friendly good intention
Kind, helpful feelings together with a friendly wish for others to be well.
Ejemplos
- The agreement was signed in a spirit of benevolence and goodwill.
- They welcomed the visitors with benevolence and goodwill.
- True diplomacy depends on mutual benevolence and goodwill.
out of benevolence
1/ˈaʊt əv bənˈɛvələns/
fixed phrase
formal
for reasons of kindness
Because of a kind and generous feeling; as a way to help, not because of duty or payment.
Ejemplos
- She offered legal advice out of benevolence, not for money.
- They forgave the debt out of benevolence toward the struggling family.
- The donor made the contribution purely out of benevolence.
with benevolence
1/wˈɪθ bənˈɛvələns/
fixed phrase
formal
in a kind and generous way
In a way that shows kind and generous feelings.
Ejemplos
- The judge spoke with benevolence, explaining the decision gently.
- She looked at the children with benevolence rather than anger.
- The manager handled the mistake with benevolence instead of blame.