Word
gay
Phoneticsgay
US/ˈɡeɪ/
UK/ɡˈeɪ/
Definitions
01homosexual
A2 · Elementary
adj. describing someone who is sexually or emotionally attracted to people of their own gender.
adj. pertaining to or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to persons of one's own gender.
“He felt comfortable coming out as gay to his supportive family.”
“The city's annual pride parade celebrates the history and rights of the gay community and other marginalized groups.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02happy or lively
B2 · Upper Intermediate Archaic · Literary
adj. feeling happy, cheerful, or full of energy.
adj. characterized by happiness, cheerfulness, or high spirits.
“The children had a gay time playing in the garden all afternoon.”
“The ballroom was filled with gay laughter and the sound of upbeat music from the live orchestra.”
03bright or colorful
C1 · Advanced Archaic · Literary
adj. having bright, beautiful, or cheerful colors.
adj. vividly colored, bright, or showy in appearance.
“The garden was filled with gay flowers of every possible color.”
“She wore a gay silk scarf that contrasted sharply with her otherwise somber attire.”
04a homosexual person
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person who is attracted to people of the same gender.
n. a person who is homosexual, most commonly referring to men.
“The club was a popular meeting place for local gays and their friends.”
“The activist fought for the rights of gays and lesbians to be treated equally under the law.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “gay” in context.
Verb
01. come out as gay
“He decided to come out as gay to his family after he finished university.”
verb + adv + prep + adj
02. identify as gay
“Many young people today feel more comfortable identifying as gay than previous generations did.”
verb + prep + adj
Adjective
03. openly gay
“She was the first openly gay politician to be elected to the city council.”
adv + adj
04. proud to be gay
“The festival is a time for people to show they are proud to be gay.”
adj + infinitive
Noun
05. gay bar
“They met at a popular gay bar in the city center last Saturday night.”
adj + noun
06. gay community
“The local gay community organized a charity event to support the youth center.”
adj + noun
07. gay rights
“The organization has spent decades campaigning for gay rights and marriage equality.”
adj + noun
Usage
Primarily used as an adjective; when used as a noun, it can sometimes be perceived as overly clinical or occasionally offensive depending on the context.
Pitfall
He is a gay.
He is gay.
In modern English, it is more natural and respectful to use the word as an adjective rather than a noun.
Real-World Examples
“Asked in a YouTube interview whether he thought people were born gay, Singh replied: “No, it’s a mental illness”.” “To this day, fans still shout “Your dad is gay!” at him in the street, a call-back to the moment when Elijah tartly advises Hannah that she might want to fine-tune her gaydar.” 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
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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