tasty
TAYS-tee
Tasty (adj) means having a good, enjoyable flavour. Example: “The curry was spicy and tasty.”
adj
1
Having a good, enjoyable flavour.
"The curry was spicy and tasty."
"She whipped up a tasty pasta dish in twenty minutes."
"This soup is really tasty, especially with fresh bread on the side."
2
(informal) Attractive or appealing, especially describing a person.
"He's always thought his neighbour was rather tasty."
"My sister thinks the new teacher is quite tasty."
"Her friends all agreed that the actor in the film looked tasty."
3
(slang) Skilled or impressive at something, especially in sport or a fight.
"That winger is properly tasty on the ball."
"The new striker is tasty, and he scored twice before half-time."
"You'd better watch out because that boxer is a tasty fighter."
How to use tasty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGood-tasting — and, informally, good-looking or impressively skilled.
When to use it
The "attractive person" and "skilled/tough" senses are informal British slang; stick to the food sense in formal writing.
Common pairings
a tasty meal
looks tasty
a tasty finish
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Word forms
- Plural
- tasties
- Comparative
- tastier
- Superlative
- tastiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The curry was spicy and _____.
Etymology
From taste plus the adjective suffix -y.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for tasty
See all rhymes for tasty →Frequently asked questions
What does “tasty” mean?
The word “tasty” means having a good, enjoyable flavour. In plain terms, good-tasting — and, informally, good-looking or impressively skilled.
How do you pronounce “tasty”?
“Tasty” is pronounced TAYS-tee (/ˈteɪsti/ in IPA).
How do you use “tasty” in a sentence?
Here is “tasty” used in a sentence: “The curry was spicy and tasty.”
What part of speech is “tasty”?
“Tasty” is an adjective.
Is “tasty” a common word?
“Tasty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “tasty” have?
“Tasty” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having a good, enjoyable flavour.
What is the difference between tasty and delicious?
Tasty and delicious both describe good flavour, but delicious is generally considered a slightly stronger or more formal way to praise food, while tasty is more everyday and casual. Both words work well in informal speech and writing.
Is tasty used to describe people?
Yes, informally tasty can describe a person as attractive or appealing, separate from its main meaning about flavour. This usage is casual and would not be appropriate in formal contexts.
What does tasty mean in sport or fighting slang?
As slang, tasty can describe someone as skilled or impressive at something, especially in sport or a fight, such as calling a footballer 'a tasty player.' This sense has nothing to do with flavour and is informal in tone.
