English Reference
adjective · verb

nice

adj. · v.
US /ˈnaɪs/ nice

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    adj.pleasant, enjoyable, or satisfactory.

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

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  2. 02 A1 Beginner

    adj.kind, friendly, or polite.

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

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  3. 03 C1 Advanced FormalLiterary

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    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'.

  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    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.

Don't confuse

nice vs sympathetic — Sympathetic describes a specific emotional response to another person's suffering, while nice describes a general pleasantness or agreeable character.

Usage nice guy

This entry
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Very common
Updated