benevolent
buh-NEH-vuh-luhnt
Benevolent (adjective) means Kind, generous, and wishing to do good for others. Example: “A benevolent donor covered the cost of the new playground.”
adjective
1
Kind, generous, and wishing to do good for others.
"A benevolent donor covered the cost of the new playground."
"She ruled the company like a benevolent, if slightly overbearing, aunt."
How to use benevolent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKind-hearted and genuinely wanting good things for other people.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
benevolent smile
benevolent dictator
benevolent society
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more benevolent
- Superlative
- most benevolent
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A _____ donor covered the cost of the new playground.
Etymology
From Old French benevolent, from Latin benevolens, "wishing well" — literally bene ("well") plus volens ("wishing").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for benevolent
See all rhymes for benevolent →Frequently asked questions
What does “benevolent” mean?
The word “benevolent” means kind, generous, and wishing to do good for others. In plain terms, kind-hearted and genuinely wanting good things for other people.
How do you pronounce “benevolent”?
“Benevolent” is pronounced buh-NEH-vuh-luhnt (/bəˈnɛvələnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “benevolent” in a sentence?
Here is “benevolent” used in a sentence: “A benevolent donor covered the cost of the new playground.”
What is the opposite of “benevolent”?
The opposite of “benevolent” — its antonyms — is malevolent.
What part of speech is “benevolent”?
“Benevolent” is an adjective.
Where does the word “benevolent” come from?
The word “benevolent” comes from Latin. From Old French benevolent, from Latin benevolens, "wishing well" — literally bene ("well") plus volens ("wishing").
Is “benevolent” a common word?
“Benevolent” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
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