fancy

B1 · Intermediate British English · Informal

v. to be romantically or sexually attracted to someone.

v. to feel a romantic or sexual attraction toward someone.

“He has fancied her since they first met in university.”

“It was obvious to everyone at the party that Mark fancied Sarah, though he was too shy to speak to her.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Literary · Formal

v. to imagine something or believe something is true without being sure.

v. to believe or imagine something to be the case, often without certain proof.

“I fancy I heard a noise downstairs, but it was just the wind.”

“She fancied herself a talented artist, though she had never actually sold a single painting.”

B1 · Intermediate

adj. having a lot of decoration or being complicated in a stylish way.

adj. elaborate in structure or decoration; not plain.

“They went to a fancy restaurant to celebrate their anniversary.”

“The invitation was printed on fancy cardstock with gold embossed lettering around the edges.”

B1 · Intermediate

adj. expensive and of a high social class.

adj. of a superior grade or intended to impress; often implies a high price point.

“She bought some fancy chocolates as a gift for her host.”

“The hotel lobby was filled with fancy furniture that looked far too expensive to actually sit on.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary

n. a sudden feeling that you want something or like something.

n. a superficial or capricious inclination; a whim.

“The design of the garden was based entirely on the owner's fancy.”

“He had a sudden fancy to move to the coast, despite having lived in the city his entire life.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Archaic · Literary

n. the power of your mind to create ideas or pictures.

n. the faculty of imagination, especially when light or playful.

“The story was a pure flight of fancy with no basis in fact.”

“The poet's rich fancy populated the woods with all manner of mythical creatures and spirits.”