generous
JEHN-ruhs
Generous (adj) means willing to give more than is expected or required, especially money, time, or help. Example: “A generous neighbour lent us her ladder and stayed to help.”
adj
1
Willing to give more than is expected or required, especially money, time, or help.
"A generous neighbour lent us her ladder and stayed to help."
"It was generous of them to cover the whole bill."
"He's always generous with his advice to new employees."
2
Larger or more plentiful than necessary; ample.
"She served us generous portions of stew, and we all went back for more."
"The room has a generous amount of storage space for its size."
"The recipe calls for a generous pinch of salt."
How to use generous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGiving freely, or larger/more plentiful than strictly needed.
Common pairings
generous portion
generous donation
generous with
generous offer
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more generous
- Superlative
- most generous
Fill the gap
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A _____ neighbour lent us her ladder and stayed to help.
Etymology
From Latin generosus ("of noble birth"), from genus ("stock, race") — nobility of birth came to imply nobility of character, hence generosity.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
ungenerous
stingy
Related words
Rhymes for generous
See all rhymes for generous →Frequently asked questions
What does “generous” mean?
The word “generous” means willing to give more than is expected or required, especially money, time, or help. In plain terms, giving freely, or larger/more plentiful than strictly needed.
How do you pronounce “generous”?
“Generous” is pronounced JEHN-ruhs (/ˈd͡ʒɛn(ə)ɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “generous” in a sentence?
Here is “generous” used in a sentence: “It was generous of them to cover the whole bill.”
What is another word for “generous”?
Words with a similar meaning to “generous” include charitable, fouthy, free, frolic, giftful and giving.
What is the opposite of “generous”?
The opposite of “generous” — its antonyms — is stingy.
What part of speech is “generous”?
“Generous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “generous” come from?
The word “generous” comes from Latin. From Latin generosus ("of noble birth"), from genus ("stock, race") — nobility of birth came to imply nobility of character, hence generosity.
Is “generous” a common word?
“Generous” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "generous" and "kind"?
"Kind" describes warm, caring behaviour in general, while "generous" specifically means willing to give more than is expected, especially money, time, or help. A person can be kind without being generous, and generous without being especially kind.
Can "generous" describe an amount rather than a person?
Yes. Besides describing people, "generous" can mean larger or more plentiful than necessary, as in a generous helping of pasta or a generous discount. In this sense it is close to "ample" or "plentiful."
What preposition follows "generous"?
"Generous" is usually followed by "with" (generous with her time) or "to" (generous to strangers). The pattern "it was generous of you" is also standard when praising a specific action.
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