What does "generous" mean?

1. (giving money or time) willing to give more money, help, or time than is usual or expected. 2. (large or plentiful) larger or more plentiful than usual. 3. (kind and noble) kind and forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful.

generous

adj.

US //ˈdʒɛnɝəs// UK //dʒˈɛnəɹəs// gen·er·ous

1 giving money or time (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

willing to give more money, help, or time than is usual or expected.

willing to give or share unsparingly; demonstrating a readiness to provide more than is strictly required.

Example

It was very generous of you to pay for everyone's dinner tonight.

Example

The local community was incredibly generous, donating enough money to rebuild the youth centre within just three months.
- charitable
- giving
- magnanimous
2 large or plentiful (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

larger or more plentiful than usual.

larger, more ample, or more copious than is standard or necessary.

Example

The hotel served a generous breakfast with eggs, fruit, and fresh bread.

Example

The chef added a generous portion of herbs to the sauce, giving the dish a rich and complex flavour profile.

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3 kind and noble (adj.)
C1 Advanced Formal

kind and forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful.

noble in behaviour or spirit; showing a lack of pettiness or resentment.

Example

He was generous enough to admit that his opponent had played a better game.

Example

Despite the harsh criticism he received, the author remained generous in his praise for the younger generation of writers.
- petty
- spiteful

Origin

From Middle French genereux, and its source, Latin generōsus (“of noble birth”), from genus (“race, stock”).

Word family

Adjectivegenerous
Adverbgenerously