generosity
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the quality of being kind and sharing your money, time, or things with others.
the quality of being kind and generous; the willingness to give money, help, or time freely. Uncountable in this abstract sense.
Simple“We were all touched by her generosity when she offered to pay for our lunch.”
In context“The local community was overwhelmed by the generosity of the anonymous donor who funded the new library wing.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'towards' or 'to'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a specific act of being kind or giving something to someone.
a specific instance or act of giving. Countable in this sense.
Simple“The family thanked him for his many generosities over the years.”
In context“The biography details the various generosities the philanthropist performed throughout his life, many of which were kept secret until his death.”
UsageUsually used in the plural to describe multiple kind actions.
- 03 C1 Advanced
the quality of being plentiful or having a large amount of something.
the quality of being abundant or more than adequate in amount or size.
Simple“The generosity of the harvest meant that no one in the village went hungry.”
In context“The chef was known for the generosity of his portions, ensuring that every guest left the restaurant fully satisfied.”
UsageOften used to describe natural resources or portions of food.
- 04 C2 Proficiency
coming from a high social class or a noble family.
nobility of birth, stock, or character.
Simple“The knight was respected for his generosity and his brave heart.”
In context“In the old tales, a man's generosity was judged as much by his lineage as by his actions on the battlefield.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is rarely encountered outside of historical literature or classical texts.
Synonymsnobilityhigh birth
From Middle English generosite, from Latin generōsitās.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.