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

Sunak - who remains the MP for Richmond and Northallerton - said he was "delighted" to be working "with two of the world's leading tech firms" and planned to donate his earnings to a charity he founded.

Read more on BBC

Aficionados will delight in minor details such as being close enough to touch the ghoulish monkey music box from the original, and being within breathing distance of the performers in these famous roles.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

I had options and made my decision to stay here and it's one I'm delighted with.

Read more on BBC

It was no different on the day of her Senate confirmation hearing, when journalists and social media delighted in noting that seated behind her was her son-in-law, the retired wrestler known as Triple H.

Read more on Salon

He is a delight to watch - even just the sight of him strolling the corridors with his hood up trying to look menacing makes you laugh.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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