Delight

/dɪˈlaɪt/

nounBeginnerCommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A feeling of great pleasure and satisfaction.

/dɪˈlaɪt/

nounpositiveBeginner
General

A feeling of great pleasure or happiness.

The children showed delight when they saw the ice cream.

💡 Simply: Delight is when you feel really, really happy and pleased. Like when you get a surprise present, you feel delight!

👶 For kids: Delight is a super happy feeling!

More Examples

2

The concert was a source of pure delight for the audience.

3

It brought me great delight to see my grandchildren playing together.

How It's Used

Everyday conversation

"Her presence brought great delight to the party."

Literary contexts

"The poet described nature as a source of endless delight."

2

To give great pleasure to someone.

/dɪˈlaɪt/

verbpositiveBeginner
General

To please (someone) greatly.

The chef's creations delighted the diners.

💡 Simply: To delight someone is to make them super happy and pleased. Like when you tell a funny joke and it delights your friend!

👶 For kids: To delight someone is to make them really, really happy!

More Examples

2

The performance delighted the audience.

3

The gift delighted her.

How It's Used

Everyday conversation

"The surprise party delighted her."

Formal contexts

"The performance delighted the critics."

Tip:Think of something that makes you happy, it's something that delights you.

Idioms & expressions

take delight in something

To enjoy something very much.

"She takes great delight in her garden."

From Middle English *delit*, from Old French *delit* ('pleasure, delight'), from *delitier* ('to take pleasure, to delight'), from Latin *dēlectāre* ('to charm, to please').

The word 'delight' has been used since the 13th century and was a popular term in literature during the Renaissance.

Memory tip

Think of a delicious treat - it brings you delight!

dlightdelitedelyte

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written