lovely
Americanadjective
-
charmingly or exquisitely beautiful.
a lovely flower.
-
having a beauty that appeals to the heart or mind as well as to the eye, as a person or a face.
-
delightful; highly pleasing.
to have a lovely time.
-
of a great moral or spiritual beauty.
a lovely character.
noun
plural
lovelies-
Informal. a beautiful woman, especially a show girl.
-
any person or thing that is pleasing, highly satisfying, or the like.
Every car in the new line is a lovely.
adverb
adjective
-
very attractive or beautiful
-
highly pleasing or enjoyable
a lovely time
-
loving and attentive
-
inspiring love; lovable
noun
Usage
What are other ways to say lovely?
The adjective lovely describes people or things that are charmingly or exquisitely beautiful. How is it different from beautiful, handsome, and pretty? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
- lovelily adverb
- loveliness noun
Etymology
Origin of lovely
First recorded before 900; Middle English luvelich, Old English luflīc “amiable”; love + -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Moreno thought it would be lovely for Carpino to throw out the first pitch and, under different circumstances, it would have been.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
Natalie said the response they had had to the workshops was "really lovely".
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
His coverage of the Luftwaffe bombings and of a nation ever more tightening its belt is memorable and, in places, quite lovely and moving.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
"For me it doesn't have to be gender based. The fact that I had not only a male - one with a loud Scottish voice, all the craic - it was just lovely," said Rooney.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
“Well, that’s a lovely sentiment,” the Person from Corporate began, but she was interrupted by Jimmy.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
