# sweet

/ˈswit/ (US) · /swˈiːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sweet
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. tasting of sugar

adjective · CEFR A1

having a taste like sugar or honey.

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

- This tea is too sweet because you added three spoons of sugar.
- The pastry chef balanced the sweet notes of the ripe peaches with a sharp lemon glaze to prevent the dessert from becoming cloying.

### 2. kind or gentle

adjective · CEFR A2

having a kind, nice, or gentle personality.

For teachers: having a pleasant, kind, or endearing disposition.

- It was very sweet of you to bring me flowers while I was sick.
- The elderly woman had a sweet temperament that made her a favourite among the nursing staff and other residents alike.

### 3. pleasant or satisfying

adjective · CEFR B1

very pleasing, satisfying, or attractive.

For teachers: highly pleasing or satisfying to the senses or mind; often used to describe sounds or smells.

- The sweet smell of jasmine filled the garden on summer evenings.
- The singer's sweet, melodic voice resonated perfectly within the cathedral's stone walls, captivating the entire audience.

### 4. excellent

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

used to say that something is very good or cool.

For teachers: denoting excellence or high quality; used as a general term of approval.

- That is a sweet new car you bought.
- The skateboarder landed a sweet trick that left the spectators cheering in the stands.

### 5. candy

noun · CEFR A2 · British English

a small piece of food made mostly of sugar.

For teachers: a small piece of confectionery made with sugar; a piece of candy.

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

### 6. dessert

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

a sweet dish eaten at the end of a meal.

For teachers: a sweet course served at the conclusion of a meal; a synonym for dessert.

- What are we having for sweet tonight?
- After the main course was cleared, the host offered a choice of fruit tart or chocolate mousse for sweet.

### 7. term of affection

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a kind name you call someone you love.

For teachers: a term of endearment used to address a romantic partner or a close friend.

- Goodnight, sweet, I will see you in the morning.
- He often addressed his wife as 'my sweet' in his letters, a habit he had maintained since their youth.

## Examples

- She always keeps a bag of sweets in her desk drawer.
- The children were allowed to pick one sweet from the jar after they finished their vegetables.
- While the shop specialized in traditional handmade sweets, it also offered a selection of imported chocolates and artisanal pastries to cater to a wider demographic.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.