delightful
duh-LYT-fl
Delightful (adjective) means Very pleasing; causing enjoyment or satisfaction. Example: “We had a delightful evening at the restaurant.”
adjective
1
Very pleasing; causing enjoyment or satisfaction.
"That is what I plan to do at Yahoo: give the end user something valuable and delightful that makes them want to come to Yahoo every day."
— Megan Garber, Is ‘Delightful’ the New ‘Cool’? (2013)
"We had a delightful evening at the restaurant."
"She has a delightful sense of humor."
"The garden was delightful in spring, full of birdsong and flowers."
"An indulgent playmate, Grannie would lay aside the long scratchy-looking letter she was writing (heavily crossed 'to save notepaper') and enter into the delightful pastime of 'a chicken from Mr Whiteley's'."
— Agatha Christie (1977)
How to use delightful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCharming or pleasant in a way that brings genuine enjoyment.
Common pairings
delightful surprise
delightful evening
absolutely delightful
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more delightful, delightfuler, delightfuller
- Superlative
- most delightful, delightfulest, delightfullest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We had a _____ evening at the restaurant.
Etymology
From Middle English deliteful, delitfull, equivalent to delight + -ful.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for delightful
See all rhymes for delightful →Frequently asked questions
What does “delightful” mean?
The word “delightful” means very pleasing; causing enjoyment or satisfaction. In plain terms, charming or pleasant in a way that brings genuine enjoyment.
How do you pronounce “delightful”?
“Delightful” is pronounced duh-LYT-fl (/dəˈlaɪt.fl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “delightful” in a sentence?
Here is “delightful” used in a sentence: “We had a delightful evening at the restaurant.”
What part of speech is “delightful”?
“Delightful” is an adjective.
Is “delightful” a common word?
“Delightful” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between delightful and pleasant?
Delightful describes something that is very pleasing and causes genuine enjoyment or satisfaction, while pleasant is a milder word describing something simply agreeable or nice. Delightful carries more warmth and enthusiasm than pleasant.
Is delightful a formal or informal word?
Delightful sits comfortably in both formal and informal English, often used in polite conversation, reviews, and writing to express genuine enjoyment without sounding overly casual.
What kinds of things are typically described as delightful?
Delightful is commonly used to describe people, experiences, food, weather, and surprises that bring pleasure or satisfaction, such as 'a delightful evening' or 'a delightful surprise.'
