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sweet

[ sweet ]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sweet ON THESAURUS.COM

WATCH NOW: Why Are There So Many Definitions For The Word "Sweet"?

WATCH NOW: Why Are There So Many Definitions For The Word "Sweet"?

When someone calls you "sweet" ... what do they really mean? Are they complimenting you, insulting you? Help!

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adjective, sweet·er, sweet·est.

having the taste or flavor characteristic of sugar, honey, etc.

producing the one of the four basic taste sensations that is not bitter, sour, or salt.

not rancid or stale; fresh: This milk is still sweet.

not salt or salted: sweet butter.

pleasing to the ear; making a delicate, pleasant, or agreeable sound; musical.

pleasing or fresh to the smell; fragrant; perfumed.

pleasing or agreeable; delightful.

amiable; kind or gracious, as a person, action, etc.

dear; beloved; precious.

easily managed; done or effected without effort.

(of wine) not dry; containing unfermented, natural sugar.

(of a cocktail) made with a greater proportion of vermouth than usual.

sentimental, cloying, or unrealistic: a sweet painting of little kittens.

(of air) fresh; free from odor, staleness, excess humidity, noxious gases, etc.

free from acidity or sourness, as soil.

Chemistry.

devoid of corrosive or acidic substances.
(of fuel oil or gas) containing no sulfur compounds.

(of jazz or big band music) performed with a regular beat, moderate tempo, lack of improvisation, and an emphasis on warm tone and clearly outlined melody.

adverb

in a sweet manner; sweetly.

noun

a sweet flavor, smell, or sound; sweetness.

something that is sweet or causes or gives a sweet flavor, smell, or sound.

sweets, Informal.

candied sweet potatoes.
(in direct address) sweetheart.

sweets, pie, cake, candy, and other foods high in sugar content.

Chiefly British.

a piece of candy; sweetmeat or bonbon.
a sweet dish or dessert, as a pudding or tart.

something pleasant to the mind or feelings.

a beloved person.

(in direct address) darling; sweetheart.

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RELATED WORDS

luscious, delicious, syrupy, beautiful, engaging, generous, mushy, delightful, charming, pleasant, gentle, mild, tender, pleasing, appealing, lovable, loving, fragrant, spicy

Nearby words

Idioms

sweet on, Informal. infatuated with; in love with: He's sweet on her.

Origin of sweet

before 900; (adj. and adv.) Middle English swet(e), Old English swēte (adj.); (noun) Middle English swet(e), derivative of the adj.; cognate with Old Saxon swōti, Old High German swuozi (German süss); akin to Dutch zoet, Old Norse sætr, Gothic suts, Greek hēdýs sweet, Latin suādēre to recommend, suāvis pleasant

SYNONYMS FOR sweet

1. sugary. 5. melodious, mellifluous. 6. redolent, aromatic, scented. 8. winning, lovable, charming.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sweet ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

sweet·ly, adverbsweet·ness, nounnon·sweet, adjectiveo·ver·sweet, adjective

o·ver·sweet·ly, adverbo·ver·sweet·ness, nounsu·per·sweet, adjectivesu·per·sweet·ly, adverbsu·per·sweet·ness, noun

Can be confusedsuite sweet

Sweet

[ sweet ]

/ swit /

noun

Henry,1845–1912, English philologist and linguist.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sweet

The smell of grilled meat mixes with the exotic wafts of cinnamon tea served with a mush of sweet brown dessert.
The Photographer Who Gave Up Manhattan for Marrakech|Liza Foreman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
So just looking forward to taking our sweet ass time with this next one.
Deer Tick's John McCauley on Ten Years in Rock and Roll|James Joiner|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The tasteless bread was transformed into a sweet cake that included ingredients, such as dried fruit and marzipan.
One Cake to Rule Them All: How Stollen Stole Our Hearts|Molly Hannon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To Hitchcock, this is not a sweet wire from an old colleague but a condolence letter on the occasion of his own death.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

While 15 miles per week has benefits, “the sweet spot is probably around 30 miles of running per week,” Williams argues.
Running 15 Miles a Week Could Slash Alzheimer’s Risk|DailyBurn|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sweet and low the name sounded from her lips and his heart thrilled.
The Viking Blood|Frederick William Wallace
In a sweet and sonorous voice she made her speech, and told her story.
The Art of Disappearing|John Talbot Smith
"Thank you, madam," said Ina, in her own sweet but queenly way.
The Woman-Hater|Charles Reade
It seemed a sweet little yard, smelling of newly cut grass and flowers.
Across the Fruited Plain|Florence Crannell Means
Ah, but there was my sweet little St. Sulpice girl, with her nurse, or companion.
Donahoe's Magazine, Vol. XV, No. 4, April, 1886|Various

British Dictionary definitions for sweet

sweet

/ (swiːt) /

adjective

having or denoting a pleasant taste like that of sugar

agreeable to the senses or the mindsweet music

having pleasant manners; gentlea sweet child

(of wine, etc) having a relatively high sugar content; not dry

(of foods) not decaying or rancidsweet milk

not saltysweet water

free from unpleasant odourssweet air

containing no corrosive substancessweet soil

(of petrol) containing no sulphur compounds

sentimental or unrealistic

individual; particularthe electorate went its own sweet way

jazz performed with a regular beat, with the emphasis on clearly outlined melody and little improvisation

Australian slang satisfactory or in order; all right

archaic respected; dear (used in polite forms of address)sweet sir

smooth and precise; perfectly executeda sweet shot

sweet on fond of or infatuated with

keep someone sweet to ingratiate oneself in order to ensure cooperation

adverb

informal in a sweet manner

noun

a sweet taste or smell; sweetness in general

(often plural) British any of numerous kinds of confectionery consisting wholly or partly of sugar, esp of sugar boiled and crystallized (boiled sweets)

British a pudding, fruit, or any sweet dish served as a dessert

dear; sweetheart (used as a form of address)

anything that is sweet

(often plural) a pleasurable experience, state, etcthe sweets of success

US See sweet potato

Derived Formssweetish, adjectivesweetly, adverbsweetness, noun

Word Origin for sweet

Old English swēte; related to Old Saxon swōti, Old High German suozi, Old Norse sœtr, Latin suādus persuasive, suāvis sweet, Greek hēdus, Sanskrit svādu; see persuade, suave

Sweet

noun

Henry. 1845–1912, English philologist; a pioneer of modern phonetics. His books include A History of English Sounds (1874)

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

Word Origin and History for sweet

sweet

adj.

Old English swete "pleasing to the senses, mind or feelings," from Proto-Germanic *swotijaz (cf. Old Saxon swoti, Swedish söt, Danish sød, Middle Dutch soete, Dutch zoet, Old High German swuozi, German süß), from PIE root *swad- "sweet, pleasant" (Sanskrit svadus "sweet;" Greek hedys "sweet, pleasant, agreeable," hedone "pleasure;" Latin suavis "sweet," suadere "to advise," properly "to make something pleasant to").

To be sweet on someone is first recorded 1690s. Sweet-talk (v.) dates from 1935; earliest uses seem to refer to conversation between black and white in segregated U.S. Sweet sixteen first recorded 1767. Sweet dreams as a parting to one going to sleep is attested from 1898, short for sweet dreams to you, etc. Sweet and sour in cooking is from 1723 and not originally of oriental food.

sweet

n.

c.1300, "something sweet to the taste," also "beloved one," from sweet (adj.); the meaning "candy drop" is 1851 (earlier sweetie, 1721).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with sweet

sweet

In addition to the idioms beginning with sweet

sweet dreams
sweeten the kitty
sweetness and light
sweet nothings
sweet on, be
sweet talk
sweet tooth

also see:

short and sweet
take the bitter with the sweet

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.