delightful
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of delightful
Explanation
Anything delightful causes pleasure or joy. For most people, watching a puppy play is delightful. Delight is a strong positive emotion. We feel delight when something entertains or pleases us very much. Such things can be called delightful. After weeks of cold weather, a sunny day is delightful. Making a new friend is delightful. Going to see an exciting or hilarious movie is delightful. A good cup of coffee can be delightful. This word can apply to almost anything you enjoy a lot. People who find lots of things delightful are generally pretty happy.
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.
I got a delightful 10-minute head and neck massage.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026
The willingness to build something delightful out of whatever appears.
From Salon • May 25, 2026
It was the kind of unexpected bit that viewers tuned into “The Late Show” for — it was delightful and joyful.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
The delightful strike gave Oliver Glasner's side a two-goal cushion going into the second leg at Selhurst Park on Thursday, 7 May, and they surely have one foot in a first major European final.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
In warm weather, the richly decorated pathway was probably a delightful way to take a relaxed stroll through the garden.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
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.
