delighted
dih-LEYE-tihd
Delighted (adjective) means feeling great pleasure or happiness. Example: “The children were delighted when the snow finally arrived.”
adjective
1
Feeling great pleasure or happiness.
"The children were delighted when the snow finally arrived."
"We were delighted to hear the good news."
"She was delighted with her new job offer."
How to use delighted
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery pleased or happy about something.
Common pairings
delighted to hear
absolutely delighted
delighted with the result
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more delighted
- Superlative
- most delighted
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Can you complete this real example?
The children were _____ when the snow finally arrived.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for delighted
See all rhymes for delighted →Frequently asked questions
What does “delighted” mean?
The word “delighted” means feeling great pleasure or happiness. In plain terms, very pleased or happy about something.
How do you pronounce “delighted”?
“Delighted” is pronounced dih-LEYE-tihd (/dɪˈlaɪtɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “delighted” in a sentence?
Here is “delighted” used in a sentence: “We were delighted to hear the good news.”
What part of speech is “delighted”?
“Delighted” is an adjective.
Is “delighted” a common word?
“Delighted” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between delighted and happy?
Delighted is stronger than happy: it means feeling great pleasure, usually in response to something specific such as good news or an invitation. Happy is the everyday, all-purpose word and can describe a general state as well as a reaction. Saying you are delighted signals noticeably more enthusiasm than plain happy would.
Which preposition goes with delighted — with, at, or by?
All three occur: you are typically delighted with a thing or result ("delighted with the service") and delighted at or by news or an event ("delighted at the outcome"). Delighted is also very commonly followed by a to-infinitive ("delighted to meet you") or a that-clause ("delighted that you can come").
Can you say "very delighted"?
Native speakers generally avoid "very delighted," because delighted is already a strong adjective meaning feeling great pleasure. The natural intensifiers are absolutely, truly, or thoroughly delighted. If you want to use very, the usual choices are "very pleased" or "very happy."
Is delighted formal or informal?
Delighted works in both polite-formal and everyday English. It is a standard choice in invitations and replies ("We would be delighted to attend"), where happy might sound too plain. In casual speech it can sound slightly effusive, which is often exactly the effect the speaker wants.
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