delight
/dɪˈlaɪt/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A feeling of great pleasure or happiness. It can also mean something that gives you this feeling.
- Her smile filled him with delight.
- The concert was a real delight.
verb
To please someone very much, or to give someone great pleasure.
- The news delighted her.
- The children were delighted by the fireworks.
Adinary Nuance
Delight is stronger and more joyful than pleasure. It often suggests clear happiness, surprise, or strong approval. Compared with joy, it is usually lighter and more specific to one thing or moment. Compared with enjoy, it is more formal and less common in everyday speech.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vui sướng
- Spanish
- deleite
- Chinese
- 愉悦
- Japanese
- 喜び
- Korean
- 기쁨
Etymology
Delight came into English from Old French in the Middle Ages. It goes back to Latin roots meaning “to please” or “to charm.”
Common phrases
great delightto the delight oftake delight ina delight to watch
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is delight formal or informal?
- It is a little formal, but common in writing and speech.
- What is the difference between delight and pleasure?
- Delight is stronger and more emotional. Pleasure is broader and can sound more neutral.
- Can I use delight as a verb?
- Yes. It means to please someone very much.
- Is delight used in academic writing?
- Yes, especially in formal reports, essays, and descriptions of reactions.