English Reference
adjective · noun

sweet

adj. · n.
US /ˈswit/ UK /swˈiːt/ sweet

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    adj.having a taste like sugar or honey.

    adj.having the distinctive taste of sugar or honey; containing a significant amount of saccharine substances.

    Simple

    This tea is too sweet because you added three spoons of sugar.

    In context

    The pastry chef balanced the sweet notes of the ripe peaches with a sharp lemon glaze to prevent the dessert from becoming cloying.

    sugarysaccharine
  2. 02 A2 Elementary

    adj.having a kind, nice, or gentle personality.

    adj.having a pleasant, kind, or endearing disposition.

    Simple

    It was very sweet of you to bring me flowers while I was sick.

    In context

    The elderly woman had a sweet temperament that made her a favourite among the nursing staff and other residents alike.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    adj.very pleasing, satisfying, or attractive.

    adj.highly pleasing or satisfying to the senses or mind; often used to describe sounds or smells.

    Simple

    The sweet smell of jasmine filled the garden on summer evenings.

    In context

    The singer's sweet, melodic voice resonated perfectly within the cathedral's stone walls, captivating the entire audience.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate InformalSlang

    adj.used to say that something is very good or cool.

    adj.denoting excellence or high quality; used as a general term of approval.

    Simple

    That is a sweet new car you bought.

    In context

    The skateboarder landed a sweet trick that left the spectators cheering in the stands.

  5. 05 A2 Elementary British English Cooking

    n.a small piece of food made mostly of sugar.

    n.a small piece of confectionery made with sugar; a piece of candy.

    Simple

    The children were allowed to choose one sweet from the jar after dinner.

    In context

    The traditional shop sold a variety of boiled sweets in glass jars, ranging from lemon drops to peppermint humbugs.

    Usage

    Commonly used as a countable noun in British English, whereas American English prefers 'candy' as an uncountable noun.

    candyconfectionlolly
  6. 06 B1 Intermediate British English Cooking

    n.a sweet dish eaten at the end of a meal.

    n.a sweet course served at the conclusion of a meal; a synonym for dessert.

    Simple

    What are we having for sweet tonight?

    In context

    After the main course was cleared, the host offered a choice of fruit tart or chocolate mousse for sweet.

  7. 07 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    n.a kind name you call someone you love.

    n.a term of endearment used to address a romantic partner or a close friend.

    Simple

    Goodnight, sweet, I will see you in the morning.

    In context

    He often addressed his wife as 'my sweet' in his letters, a habit he had maintained since their youth.

Usage sweet spot

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Very common
Updated