ENGLISH
REFERENCE

warmth

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate US //ˈwɔɹmθ// UK //wˈɔːmθ// warmth

n. the pleasant feeling of being hot or warm. It can also describe a person's friendly and kind behavior.

n. the quality or state of being moderately hot; also refers to a friendly, enthusiastic, or affectionate manner. Uncountable in its abstract sense; countable when referring to specific visual tones in art.


SIMPLE

The sun's warmth feels great on my skin.

CONTEXTUAL

The host greeted us with such genuine warmth that we immediately felt at home in the new city.

COMPLEX

The artist used a palette of ochre and burnt sienna to infuse the landscape with a sense of late-afternoon warmth that contrasts sharply with the cool shadows.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English warmth, warmeth, wermþe, from Old English wiermþu (“warmth”), from Proto-West Germanic warmiþu (“warmness; warmth”), corresponding to warm + -th (abstract nominal suffix). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Waarmte (“warmth”), West Frisian waarmte (“warmth”), Dutch warmte (“warmth”), German Low German Warmte, Warmt (“warmth”).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to temperature or general kindness; can be countable in technical contexts like art or photography to describe specific color tones.

© 2026 English Reference