delight
Americannoun
-
delights
plural
-
a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; rapture.
She takes great delight in her job.
- Synonyms:
- delectation, transport
- Antonyms:
- distress
-
something that gives great pleasure.
The dance was a delight to see.
- Antonyms:
- disappointment
verb (used with object)
-
delights,
present (3rd person singular)
-
delighted,
past participle, past
-
delighting
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
delights,
present (3rd person singular)
-
delighted,
past participle, past
-
delighting
present participle
verb
-
(tr) to please greatly
-
to take great pleasure (in)
noun
-
extreme pleasure or satisfaction; joy
-
something that causes this
music was always his delight
Synonym Usage
See pleasure.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
delightsimple
-
delightssimple
-
have delightedperfect
-
has delightedperfect
-
am delightingprogressive
-
are delightingprogressive
-
is delightingprogressive
-
have been delightingperfect progressive
-
has been delightingperfect progressive
Past
-
delightedsimple
-
had delightedperfect
-
was delightingprogressive
-
were delightingprogressive
-
had been delightingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of delight
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 ( see delectable); (noun) respelling (as above) of Middle English delit, from Anglo-French, Old French, derivative of the verb
Explanation
When you like someone, you might say, "She is an absolute delight." You mean you think she's great: a delight is a source of joy, and to delight is to cause pleasure. Babies are particularly good at expressing delight in new things. Delight is often associated with an initial impression—one says, "She continues to delight us," to suggest that the first impression continues. The word delight derives from the Latin delectare "to charm," which also gives us delectable, and the same lighthearted sense of pure, uncomplicated pleasure.
Vocabulary lists containing delight
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Enjoy! Synonyms for "Pleasure"
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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.
See Examples For:
We are keenly aware of Mr. Lucas’s pride and delight in each acquisition, and he lets us see them, one after another, just as a stamp collector might leaf through his album.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
The home fans, with split loyalties before the race between Antonelli and Ferrari, screamed with delight as he crossed the line, 60 years since the last time an Italian won his home race.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
But it’s true and Nick’s delight in tending to his own personal Maverick is sincere.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
To my horror and delight, I fear that it’s actually working this time.
From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2026
He would honk his delight to the four winds, walk around as though he wasn’t paying any attention until Rowdy got comfortable and went to sleep.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
Her fall from perfection delights her brother and sister, who chant, “One of us!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Perry and her partner, Canada's former prime minister Justin Trudeau, sampled the delights of Mykonos.
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
Conducting a tour last month before the arrival of any students, she delights in countless design details.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
For those very delights — oh, and the art too, yeah, sure — are why many people still want to go, a desire that watching “The Man Will Burn” will only strengthen.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
Even as my dear mother and first friend was leaving, my head was swimming with the delights of my new home.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Dinner tasted rich and savory and faintly sweet, the sort of thing I would have been delighted to order at a neighborhood restaurant.
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026
Steve Egerton-Read, white-tailed eagle project officer for Forestry England, said: "We are delighted that these three chicks made it through and will be closely watching their progress as they begin to explore the landscape."
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
When I proposed to my then-girlfriend, I was delighted she said yes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
"I'm absolutely delighted to sign a new contract here at London City," said Fernandez.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
When I offered to help with the chores, Ida warmed considerably, and she was delighted when I said I could milk a goat.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Marlene Cooper has paid $100 a week to get a box of five meals from Blue Apron for the last decade, delighting in dinners like chicken enchilada skillet and cilantro paneer and chickpea curry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Iran responded in the 64th minute with Rezaeian’s cross headed home by Mohammad Mohebi, tying the game and delighting fans.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
Creme eggs have been delighting - or not, depending on your palate - British tastebuds for more than 50 years.
From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2026
When part of a SpaceX rocket re-entered Earth's atmosphere exactly a year ago, it created a spectacuglar fireball that streaked across Europe's skies, delighting stargazers and sending a team of scientists rushing towards their instruments.
From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026
Georgina hailed from Delaware and had that vexing way of Delaware ladies, delighting in puzzles.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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.
