delighted
/dɪˈlaɪ.tɪd/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Very pleased and happy about something. It is stronger than "happy" and often sounds warm, polite, or formal.
- She was delighted with the news.
- I was delighted to meet you.
- They looked delighted at the result.
Adinary Nuance
Delighted is stronger and more expressive than happy. It often sounds more polished than pleased, and warmer than glad. Use delighted when you want to show clear joy, especially in polite speech or writing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vui mừng
- Spanish
- encantado
- Chinese
- 很高兴
- Japanese
- とてもうれしい
- Korean
- 매우 기쁜
Etymology
Delighted comes from the verb "delight," which entered English from Old French in the Middle Ages. It has long meant strong pleasure or joy.
Common phrases
delighted to helpdelighted withdelighted at the newsdelighted to hear
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is delighted more formal than happy?
- Yes. Delighted often sounds more polite and slightly more formal than happy.
- What's the difference between delighted and pleased?
- Delighted is stronger. Pleased is milder and often sounds more neutral.
- Can I say 'I am delighted' in speaking?
- Yes. It sounds natural, especially in polite or professional conversations.
- Is delighted common in business English?
- Yes. People often say "delighted to meet you" or "delighted to help."