Word
delightful
Phoneticsde·light·ful, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈɫaɪtfəɫ/
UK/dɪlˈaɪtfəl/
Definition
adj. very pleasant, attractive, or enjoyable. You use it to describe something that makes you feel happy and satisfied.
adj. providing great pleasure, satisfaction, or enjoyment. Often used to describe sensory experiences, social interactions, or aesthetic qualities.
Examples
“We had a delightful evening at the new restaurant.”
“The garden was filled with delightful flowers that filled the air with a sweet, fresh scent.”
“The performance was a delightful blend of classical technique and modern innovation, leaving the audience thoroughly charmed by the end of the first act.”
Examples
simple
“We had a delightful evening at the new restaurant.”
contextual
“The garden was filled with delightful flowers that filled the air with a sweet, fresh scent.”
complex
“The performance was a delightful blend of classical technique and modern innovation, leaving the audience thoroughly charmed by the end of the first act.”
Usage
Commonly used as an attributive adjective before a noun or as a predicative adjective after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
Etymology
From Middle English deliteful, delitfull, equivalent to delight + -ful.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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