Word
dinky
US/ˈdɪŋki/
UK/dˈɪŋki/
Definition
adj. small and neat in a cute way. You use it for little houses, cars, or things that are tiny but nice.
adj. small and neatly attractive, often implying cuteness because of diminutive size. Typically describes small objects, rooms, vehicles, or settlements.
Examples
“They live in a dinky flat near the station.”
“She drives a dinky little car that fits easily into tight parking spaces downtown.”
“From the hill, the harbour looked like a toy set, with dinky boats bobbing beside warehouses that seemed no bigger than matchboxes.”
Examples
simple
“They live in a dinky flat near the station.”
contextual
“She drives a dinky little car that fits easily into tight parking spaces downtown.”
complex
“From the hill, the harbour looked like a toy set, with dinky boats bobbing beside warehouses that seemed no bigger than matchboxes.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dinky” in context.
Verb
01. feel dinky
“Our new car feels dinky after driving a big SUV for years.”
verb + adj
02. look dinky
“The tiny chairs look dinky next to the big dining table.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. quite dinky
“Their first flat was quite dinky but perfect for two people.”
adv + adj
Noun
04. dinky car
“She drives a dinky car that is easy to park in town.”
adj + noun
05. dinky cottage
“We stayed in a dinky cottage in the Cotswolds last summer.”
adj + noun
06. dinky flat
“My cousin rents a dinky flat near the train station.”
adj + noun
07. dinky house
“They live in a dinky house with a tiny blue front door.”
adj + noun
08. dinky toy
“The child played with a dinky toy train on the floor.”
adj + noun
09. a dinky hotel room
“We stayed in a dinky hotel room in central London.”
10. a dinky little cafe
“We had lunch in a dinky little cafe by the river.”
11. a dinky little car
“She zips around town in a dinky little car.”
12. a dinky little house
“They bought a dinky little house near the beach.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies; also common in predicative use after 'look' or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“The entry-level version of this dinky, no-frills car costs the equivalent of just £4,200 and appeals to city-dwellers and first-time car owners, says Jon Hykawy, president and director of Stormcrow Capital, a consulting and research firm.” Etymology
1780-90; compare Scots dink (“neatly dressed, trim”) (of obscure origin); sense shift perhaps: trim > dainty > small > insignificant; + -y.
See DINK.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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