Word
lovable
Phoneticslov·able
US/ˈɫəvəbəɫ/
UK/lˈʌvəbəl/
Definition
adj. having qualities that make people feel affection or love for you. You use this to describe someone who is easy to like, even if they have some small faults.
adj. possessing qualities that inspire affection or make an individual easy to love. Often used to describe personality traits that evoke warmth despite minor imperfections.
Examples
“He is a lovable character who always makes people smile.”
“Despite his tendency to get into trouble, the puppy's playful nature made him completely lovable to the whole family.”
“The protagonist is written as a lovable rogue, a character whose questionable ethics are consistently overshadowed by his undeniable charm and genuine kindness toward his friends.”
Examples
simple
“He is a lovable character who always makes people smile.”
contextual
“Despite his tendency to get into trouble, the puppy's playful nature made him completely lovable to the whole family.”
complex
“The protagonist is written as a lovable rogue, a character whose questionable ethics are consistently overshadowed by his undeniable charm and genuine kindness toward his friends.”
Usage
Typically used as a predicative adjective after linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem', or as an attributive adjective before a noun.
Etymology
From Middle English lovable, loveable, luffeabill, lufabul, equivalent to love + -able.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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