delight

[dih-lahyt]

noun

1. a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; rapture.

   She takes great delight in her job.

   Synonyms: delectation, transport
   Antonyms: distress

2. something that gives great pleasure.

   The dance was a delight to see.

   Antonyms: disappointment

verb (used with object)

1. to give great pleasure, satisfaction, or enjoyment to; please highly.

   The show delighted everyone.

   Synonyms: enrapture, charm

verb (used without object)

1. to have great pleasure; take pleasure (followed by in or an infinitive).

   She delights in going for long walks in the country.

delight

/ dɪˈlaɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to please greatly

2. to take great pleasure (in)

noun

1. extreme pleasure or satisfaction; joy

2. something that causes this

   music was always his delight

Other Word Forms

• delighter noun
• delightingly adverb
• delightless adjective
• self-delight noun
• undelighting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of delight¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; (verb) respelling, after light ¹, of earlier delite, Middle English deliten, from Anglo-French deliter, Old French delitier, from Latin delectāre ( delectable ); (noun) respelling (as above) of Middle English delit, from Anglo-French, Old French, derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of delight¹

C13: from Old French delit, from deleitier to please, from Latin dēlectāre, from dēlicere to allure, from _de- + lacere to entice; see _delicious ; English spelling influenced by light

Synonym Study

See pleasure.

Example Sentences

He delights that it’s become “sort of a buzzword” and celebrates its power to motivate humanistic concern, but warns that our brains can be “a petty organ,” reserving the greatest sympathy for those most similar.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"What? They've upgraded our clothes," one of the traders said with delight as he watched the show.

Read more on Barron's

Maybe it’s less about precision and more about presence — the willingness to let instinct and delight guide your hand.

Read more on Salon

She called the hospitals' impact "truly inspirational", adding "I'm delighted to combine my love for the Children's with my passion for women's health and maternity services".

Read more on BBC

"If you want to complain about the performance, be my guest, crack on. We're delighted with the three points."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• amuse 
• attract 
• charm 
• cheer 
• enchant 
• enrapture 
• entertain 
• fascinate 
• gratify 
• please 
• rejoice 
• satisfy 
• thrill 
• wow