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

Arteta must be delighted to see the levels his players are at, not just in terms of their technical ability but also with their physicality and work-rate.

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Skyler seems to take delight in the world around him, and is keen to hold my hand and chat as we walk to the park.

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Councillor Leigh Frost, leader of Cornwall Council, said he was "delighted" to find a replacement operator so quickly and "even more so to see a Cornish company stepping in".

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And I was delighted when it would appear in pop culture which, once you start paying attention, is with shocking regularity.

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"They were delighted and relieved when they saw it in the shops because it was a long time appearing," said Ms Lewis.

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Related Words

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