# delighted

/dɪˈɫaɪtəd/ (US) · /dɪlˈaɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/delighted
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. very happy

adjective · CEFR B1

very happy and pleased about something.

For teachers: feeling or showing great pleasure or satisfaction. Often used as a predicative adjective followed by a 'to' infinitive or a 'that' clause.

- We were delighted with the results of our hard work.
- The board members were delighted by the unexpected increase in quarterly revenue, which exceeded even their most optimistic projections.

Usage: Commonly followed by the prepositions 'with', 'by', or 'at'.

### 2. gave great pleasure

verb · CEFR B2

the past action of giving someone great pleasure or making them very happy.

For teachers: the past tense of the transitive verb meaning to please someone greatly.

- The magician's clever tricks delighted the children at the party.
- The soloist's masterful interpretation of the concerto delighted the audience, earning her a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.

Usage: As a verb, it takes a direct object.

## Examples

- I am delighted to meet you.
- The children were delighted with their new toys and played with them all afternoon.
- The board of directors was delighted by the quarterly results, which exceeded even the most optimistic projections from the previous year.

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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.