fancy
FAN-see
Fancy (verb) means British informal: to want or feel attracted to something or someone. Example: “Do you fancy a coffee?”
verb
1
British informal: to want or feel attracted to something or someone.
"Do you fancy a coffee?"
"He's fancied her for years but never said anything."
"I don't really fancy walking home in the rain tonight."
adjective
1
Elaborate, decorative, or of a superior grade.
"They booked a table at a fancy restaurant."
"She wore a fancy hat with a large silk ribbon to the wedding."
"The shop sells fancy chocolates wrapped in gold paper and tied with bows."
noun
1
A sudden liking, whim, or the imagination itself.
"It was just a passing fancy — she never intended to move."
"On a sudden fancy, he bought a ticket and flew to the coast."
"The child's wild fancy turned the garden shed into a pirate ship."
How to use fancy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on use: to like or want something (verb), elaborate/upscale (adjective), or a whim/passing desire (noun).
UK vs US
The verb use meaning "want" or "be attracted to" is chiefly British — Americans would say "want" or "have a crush on."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
fancy dress
fancy that
take a fancy to
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Word forms
- Plural
- fancies
- Third person singular
- fancies
- Past tense
- fancied
- Comparative
- fancier
- Superlative
- fanciest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Do you _____ a coffee?
Etymology
A shortened form of "fantasy," which traces back through Old French and Latin to Ancient Greek phantasia, "imagination."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for fancy
nancy
Yancy
clancy
truancy
vacancy
infancy
buoyancy
vagrancy
constancy
pregnancy
occupancy
necromancy
See all rhymes for fancy →
Frequently asked questions
What does “fancy” mean?
The word “fancy” means british informal: to want or feel attracted to something or someone. In plain terms, depending on use: to like or want something (verb), elaborate/upscale (adjective), or a whim/passing desire (noun).
How do you pronounce “fancy”?
“Fancy” is pronounced FAN-see (/ˈfæn.si/ in IPA).
How do you use “fancy” in a sentence?
Here is “fancy” used in a sentence: “Do you fancy a coffee?”
What part of speech is “fancy”?
Depending on how it is used, “fancy” can be a verb, an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “fancy” come from?
The word “fancy” comes from Ancient Greek. A shortened form of "fantasy," which traces back through Old French and Latin to Ancient Greek phantasia, "imagination.".
Is “fancy” a common word?
“Fancy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “fancy” have?
“Fancy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: british informal: to want or feel attracted to something or someone.
What is the difference between "fancy" as a verb and as an adjective?
As a verb in British informal English, "fancy" means to want something or to feel attracted to someone, as in "Do you fancy a coffee?" or "She fancies him." As an adjective, "fancy" means elaborate, decorative, or of superior quality, as in a fancy restaurant. The two senses are unrelated in everyday use.
Is "fancy" formal or informal?
In its verb sense, meaning to want or to be attracted to someone, "fancy" is informal and chiefly British. The adjective meaning elaborate or high-quality is more neutral and used in both British and American English. Americans rarely use the verb sense and would say "want" or "like" instead.
When do British speakers use "fancy" to mean liking someone?
British speakers use "fancy" to mean being romantically or physically attracted to someone, as in "I think he fancies you." It is casual and common in everyday speech. In a non-romantic sense, "fancy" can also mean simply wanting something, as in "I fancy a walk."
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