ENGLISH
REFERENCE

nice

adj. · v.
US //ˈnaɪs// nice
  1. 1 pleasant or enjoyable (adj.)
    A1 Beginner

    pleasant, enjoyable, or satisfactory.

    denoting a general quality of being pleasant, agreeable, or satisfactory.

    Example

    We had a nice day at the beach despite the wind.

    Example

    The hotel provided a nice balance of luxury and comfort, ensuring that every guest felt welcomed without being overwhelmed by formality.

  2. 2 kind or friendly (adj.)
    A1 Beginner

    kind, friendly, or polite.

    describing a person who is kind, amiable, or socially agreeable.

    Example

    Our new neighbour is very nice and even helped us move our boxes.

    Example

    She was known for being exceptionally nice to junior staff, often taking the time to mentor them during her lunch breaks.

Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 precise or subtle (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Literary

    showing or needing great care, detail, or a small difference.

    requiring or characterized by great precision, delicacy, or subtle discernment.

    Example

    There is a nice distinction between being confident and being arrogant.

    Example

    The legal argument relied on a nice point of law regarding the exact timing of the contract's expiration.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrase 'a nice distinction' or 'a nice point'.

  2. 4 computer priority (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    to change how much of a computer's power a program uses.

    to invoke a utility that changes the priority level of a process in a multitasking operating system.

    Example

    You should nice that background task so it doesn't slow down your game.

    Example

    The administrator decided to nice the data-heavy indexing process to ensure the web server remained responsive to user requests.

    Usage

    Usually used as a transitive verb in Unix-like environments.

Word family
Idioms3 entries

© 2026 English Reference