beautiful
BYOO-tih-fuhl
Beautiful (adj) means having qualities that give great pleasure to look at, hear, or experience. Example: “The sunset over the mountains was beautiful.”
adj
1
Having qualities that give great pleasure to look at, hear, or experience.
"The sunset over the mountains was beautiful."
"It was a beautiful piece of music."
"The bride wore a beautiful dress made by her grandmother."
How to use beautiful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery pleasing to look at, hear, or experience.
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Word forms
- Plural
- beautifuls
- Comparative
- more beautiful
- Superlative
- most beautiful
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The sunset over the mountains was _____.
Etymology
From beauty + -ful, entering English via Old French from Latin bellus, "pretty."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for beautiful
See all rhymes for beautiful →Frequently asked questions
What does “beautiful” mean?
The word “beautiful” means having qualities that give great pleasure to look at, hear, or experience. In plain terms, very pleasing to look at, hear, or experience.
How do you pronounce “beautiful”?
“Beautiful” is pronounced BYOO-tih-fuhl (/ˈbju.tɪ.fəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “beautiful” in a sentence?
Here is “beautiful” used in a sentence: “The sunset over the mountains was beautiful.”
What is another word for “beautiful”?
Words with a similar meaning to “beautiful” include beauteous, attractive, fair, cute, good-looking and gorgeous.
What is the opposite of “beautiful”?
The opposite of “beautiful” — its antonyms — are grotesque, hideous, homely, plain and misshapen.
What part of speech is “beautiful”?
“Beautiful” is an adjective.
Where does the word “beautiful” come from?
The word “beautiful” comes from Latin. From beauty + -ful, entering English via Old French from Latin bellus, "pretty.".
Is “beautiful” a common word?
“Beautiful” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between beautiful and pretty?
"Beautiful" suggests a deeper, more striking and complete kind of attractiveness that can move you emotionally. "Pretty" is lighter — pleasant and appealing, but less powerful or profound. A sunset can be beautiful; a floral pattern might just be pretty. Beautiful is the stronger compliment of the two.
What is the difference between beautiful and handsome?
Both praise good looks, but they carry different associations. "Beautiful" suggests delicate, striking, or graceful appeal and is often applied to women, scenery, or art. "Handsome" implies strong, well-defined attractiveness and is traditionally used for men. The lines blur in modern use, and either can describe people or things admiringly.
Is beauty subjective or objective?
Largely subjective — "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," and tastes vary across people and cultures. Yet some features, such as symmetry and harmony, are widely found pleasing, hinting at shared instincts. So while there's no fixed rule for what counts as beautiful, it isn't purely random either.
What is the opposite of beautiful?
The most direct opposite is "ugly," describing something unpleasant to look at or experience. Softer contrasts include "plain" or "unattractive," which are less harsh. Which one fits depends on tone — "plain" simply lacks beauty, whereas "ugly" actively repels, sitting at the far end from beautiful.
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