lovely

[ luhv-lee ]

/ ˈlʌv li /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: lovely / loveliest / lovelies / loveliness on Thesaurus.com

adjective, love·li·er, love·li·est.

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 love·lies.

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

Nonstandard. very well; splendidly.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of lovely

before 900; Middle English luvelich,Old English luflīc amiable. See love, -ly

OTHER WORDS FROM lovely

love·li·ly, adverblove·li·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lovely in a sentence

You were certain that she was smarter than you, lovelier than you, more interesting than you.
Is Bigger Better for St. Vincent?|David Yaffe|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That day she could not have been lovelier, and we had a wide-ranging conversation.
Supermodel Iman Walked Out on Me|Kevin Sessums|November 10, 2010|DAILY BEAST
He has gone further away than that, to a lovelier country than California, I hope.
St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 5, March, 1878|Various
We are exploring the neighbourhood together, and whichever path we take we think it lovelier than the one before.
Penelope's Experiences in Scotland|Kate Douglas Wiggin

No artist of that time has created lovelier forms of women, beings with so great a charm of maidenly freshness and modest grace.
The History of Modern Painting, Volume 1 (of 4)|Richard Muther
Never, the Rector thought, had he seen a lovelier picture of youth ministering to the wants of age.
A Life Sentence|Adeline Sergeant
To cut from, early in spring, nothing is lovelier than the Lily of the Valley.
Amateur Gardencraft|Eben E. Rexford

British Dictionary definitions for lovely

lovely

/ (ˈlʌvlɪ) /

adjective -lier or -liest

very attractive or beautiful

highly pleasing or enjoyablea lovely time

loving and attentive

inspiring love; lovable

noun plural -lies

slang a lovely woman

Derived forms of lovely

loveliness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

lovely

Origin of lovely

OTHER WORDS FROM lovely

Words related to lovely

How to use lovely in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lovely

Derived forms of lovely