# delicious

/dɪˈɫɪʃəs/ (US) · /dɪlˈɪʃəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/delicious
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. tasting very good

adjective · CEFR A1

having a very pleasant taste.

For teachers: highly pleasing to the sense of taste; having a rich or savory flavor.

- The chocolate cake was absolutely delicious and everyone wanted a second piece.
- The chef prepared a delicious three-course meal featuring locally sourced ingredients and traditional spices.

Usage: Often used with 'absolutely' or 'really' rather than 'very' because it is an extreme adjective.

Teaching tip: Learners often over-apply this to any food; encourage them to use it for food that is truly special or high-quality.

### 2. very enjoyable

adjective · CEFR B2 · Literary

giving you great pleasure or satisfaction, often in a funny or clever way.

For teachers: highly pleasing or delightful to the mind or senses; often used to describe a satisfying irony or a pleasant secret.

- It was a delicious moment when the bully finally got into trouble.
- There was a delicious irony in the fact that the professional organizer had lost her own car keys.

Usage: Frequently collocates with nouns like 'irony', 'scandal', or 'moment'.

Teaching tip: Explain that this is a figurative use where the 'taste' of a situation is satisfying.

### 3. physically attractive

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

very attractive or sexy.

For teachers: possessing great physical or sexual appeal.

- He looked delicious in that new suit.
- The magazine described the lead actor as the most delicious man in Hollywood.

Teaching tip: This sense can be seen as objectifying; advise learners to use it only in very casual or flirtatious contexts.

## Examples

- This chocolate cake is absolutely delicious.
- The chef prepared a delicious three-course meal using fresh ingredients from the local market.
- The air in the orchard was thick with the delicious scent of ripening peaches, promising a bountiful harvest after the long summer drought.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.