Delight — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /di-ˈlīt/ de·light

Meaning & Definition of Delight

Delight (noun)

  1. a high degree of gratification or pleasure, joy; also, extreme satisfaction
  2. something that gives great pleasure
  3. the power of affording pleasure

Delight (verb)

  1. to take great pleasure
  2. to give keen enjoyment
  3. to give joy or satisfaction to

Delight (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a source of great satisfaction

    "the opportunity for travel was one of the major delights of the couple's golden years"

    similar: delectation, feast, gas (slang), joy, kick, manna, pleasure, treat
    related: amusement, diversion, entertainment, fun, recreation, comfort, relief, solace, gratification, indulgence, ambrosia

  2. someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment

    "with his great sense of humor and bubbly personality, he is a delight to be around"

    similar: distraction, diversion, divertissement, entertainment, fun, pleasure, recreation
    related: escape, pastime, time killer, binge, fling, frolic, gambol, lark, revel, rollick, romp, spree, frolicking, rollicking, carousing, conviviality, festivity, gaiety, hilarity, jollification, jollity, merrymaking, reveling, revelry, whoopee, picnic, laugh, riot, scream, activity, game
    opposite: bore, bummer, downer, drag
    near: killjoy, party pooper

  3. the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met

    "we were filled with delight at the sight of everyone in the family together at last for the holidays"

    similar: content, contentedness, contentment, delectation, enjoyment, gladness, gratification, happiness, pleasure, relish, satisfaction
    related: afterglow, bliss, felicity, glee, gleefulness, joy, pleasance, amusement, diversion, entertainment, elatedness, elation, exhilaration, exultation, intoxication, ecstasy, euphoria, heaven, rapture, cheer, cheerfulness, exuberance, gaiety, jollity, joyfulness, jubilation, joie de vivre, comfort, ease, restfulness
    opposite: discontent, discontentedness, discontentment, displeasure, dissatisfaction, unhappiness
    near: misery, sadness, unhappiness, wretchedness, anguish, desolation, joylessness, sorrow, woe, dejection, depression, despondency, dispiritedness, gloom, melancholy, aggravation, annoyance, exasperation, irritation, pique, vexation, anger, fury, rage, agitation, distress, disturbance, upset, discomfort, restlessness, uneasiness

Delight (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to feel or express joy or triumph

    "I delighted at the sight of my old schoolyard tormentor standing behind the fast-food counter, asking customers if they wanted fries"

    similar: crow, exuberate, exult, glory, joy, jubilate, kvell, rejoice, triumph, kick up one's heels
    related: gloat, preen, swell, boast, brag, flaunt, parade, show off, strut, swagger
    near: bemoan, bewail, grieve, lament, regret, weep

  2. to give satisfaction to

    "the news that you had won the Pulitzer delighted us beyond words"

    similar: agree (with), content, feast, gas (slang), glad (archaic), gladden, gratify, please, pleasure, rejoice, satisfy, suit, warm
    related: appease, mollify, pacify, placate, soothe, assuage, quench, sate, satiate, excite, tickle, titillate, amuse, divert, entertain, treat, captivate, charm, galvanize, thrill, calm, comfort, cater (to), humor, indulge, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil
    opposite: displease
    near: aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, cross, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, perturb, pique, put out, ruffle, vex, anger, enrage, incense, inflame, infuriate, madden, outrage, rankle, rile, roil, steam up, provoke, rouse, agitate, distress, disturb, fret, upset, harass, harry, pester, affront, insult, offend

Related Entry: Delight (in) (verb)

Delight (in) is a different word from Delight. The synonyms below are for delight (in), not for delight.

  1. to take pleasure in

    "I've been delighting in your company, so I was wondering if we might have another date"

    similar: adore, dig, enjoy, fancy, get off (on), groove (on), like, love, rejoice (in), relish, revel (in), savor, be partial to, get a kick out of, go for, have a soft spot for, take to
    related: admire, appreciate, cherish, revere, venerate, worship, prize, treasure, value, devour, drink (in), eat (up), feast (on), dote (on), idolize, cotton (to), favor, prefer, indulge (in), luxuriate (in), wallow (in)
    near: abhor, abominate, detest, dislike, hate, loathe, condemn, despise, scorn

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Delight

The most common words with a similar meaning to Delight:

Slang: gas
Archaic: glad
delectation, feast, joy, kick, manna, pleasure, treat, distraction, diversion, divertissement, entertainment, fun, recreation, content, contentedness, contentment, enjoyment, gladness, gratification, happiness, relish, satisfaction, crow, exuberate, exult, glory, jubilate, kvell, rejoice, triumph, agree (with), gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, suit, warm, kick up one's heels

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Delight

Words with the opposite meaning of Delight:

bore, bummer, downer, drag, discontent, discontentedness, discontentment, displeasure, dissatisfaction, unhappiness, displease

Related Words for Delight

amusement, comfort, relief, solace, indulgence, ambrosia, escape, pastime, time killer, binge, fling, frolic, gambol, lark, revel, rollick, romp, spree, frolicking, rollicking, carousing, conviviality, festivity, gaiety, hilarity, jollification, jollity, merrymaking, reveling, revelry

Near Antonyms of Delight

killjoy, party pooper, misery, sadness, wretchedness, anguish, desolation, joylessness, sorrow, woe, dejection, depression, despondency, dispiritedness, gloom, melancholy, aggravation, annoyance, exasperation, irritation, pique, vexation, anger, fury, rage, agitation, distress, disturbance, upset, discomfort

Word Forms of Delight

Inflections: delighted, delighting, delights

Derived words: delighter (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Delight

Middle English delit, delite, borrowed from Anglo-French delit, noun derivative of deliter "to delight:2"

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Delight

Words & Phrases Containing Delight

delight in, Turkish delight, take delight in, to someone's delight

Frequently Asked Questions about Delight

What does "Delight" mean?

"Delight" means a high degree of gratification or pleasure, joy; also, extreme satisfaction. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a high degree of gratification or pleasure, joy; also, extreme satisfaction. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Delight"?

Other words for "Delight" include delectation, feast, gas, joy, kick, manna, pleasure and treat. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Delight" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Delight"?

There are 137 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Delight". Common alternatives include delectation, feast, gas, joy, kick, manna, pleasure, treat, distraction and diversion.

What is the opposite of "Delight"?

Antonyms of "Delight" include bore, bummer, downer, drag, discontent, discontentedness, discontentment and displeasure. Near antonyms include killjoy, party pooper, misery and sadness.

How do you use "Delight" in a sentence?

Examples of "Delight" in a sentence: "the opportunity for travel was one of the major delights of the couple's golden years"; "with his great sense of humor and bubbly personality, he is a delight to be around"; "we were filled with delight at the sight of everyone in the family together at last for the holidays".

Is "Delight" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Delight" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Delight" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Delight" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Delight"?

"Delight" is pronounced /di-ˈlīt/ and divided into syllables as de·light.