homely
gb/hˈoʊmli/ us/hˈoʊmli/
B2
Inglés
~ 6900
Acepciones
0 acepciones
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.
Patrón de uso:
a homely [person/face]
Error frecuente:
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'.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
attractive (General opposite, suggesting pleasing physical appearance.)
|
good-looking (Stresses clear physical appeal, often used for people.)
Colocaciones
homely face
|homely woman
|rather homely
|a bit homely
|look homely
|plain and homely
Temas
appearance
|people
|descriptions
|body
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- 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.
Patrón de uso:
a homely [room/house/atmosphere]
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
impersonal (Describes a place that does not feel warm or welcoming.)
|
cold (Suggests a place that feels unfriendly or lacks warmth and comfort.)
Colocaciones
homely atmosphere
|homely little house
|warm and homely
|homely feel
|small and homely
|homely kitchen
Temas
home
|descriptions
|daily life
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- 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.
Patrón de uso:
homely [food/clothes/style]
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
plain (Very close in meaning; emphasizes a lack of decoration or style.)
|
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.)
Antónimos
fancy (Suggests something is decorated, stylish, or expensive, the opposite of plain and simple.)
|
luxurious (Focuses on high quality and comfort, usually expensive and special rather than everyday.)
Colocaciones
homely food
|homely cooking
|homely meal
|homely clothes
|homely style
|homely virtues
Temas
lifestyle
|food
|clothing
|descriptions
|daily_life
|food_drink
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- 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.
Patrón de uso:
a homely [man/woman/family/person]
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
down-to-earth (Very close; emphasizes practicality and lack of show‑off behavior.)
|
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.)
Antónimos
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.)
Colocaciones
homely woman
|homely family
|homely manners
|kind and homely
|quiet, homely people
|homely country folk
Temas
people
|personality
|social life
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- 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.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
homely
AFI
GB/hˈoʊmli/
US/hˈoʊmli/
Sílabas y acento
homely (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (homely)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: homely
- Comparative: homelier
- Superlative: homeliest
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
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