delicious
B1Neutral to informal; common in everyday speech, advertising, and food writing.
Definition
Meaning
Having a very pleasant taste or smell.
Extremely pleasant, enjoyable, or attractive; giving great pleasure.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily describes food/drink but can be extended metaphorically to experiences, sensations, or situations. Can imply a degree of indulgence or luxury.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Equally positive in both varieties. Slightly more common in US advertising/colloquial speech (e.g., 'delish' as slang).
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It tastes/smells/looks delicious.That [noun] is/was delicious.How delicious!Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A delicious irony”
- “To be in a delicious state of suspense”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in food/hospitality marketing (e.g., 'our delicious new range').
Academic
Very rare; considered too subjective and informal.
Everyday
Extremely common for describing food, drink, and positive experiences.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The roast dinner was absolutely delicious.
- There's a delicious scent of baking coming from the kitchen.
- He found himself in a delicious predicament.
American English
- This pizza is delicious.
- She told him a delicious piece of gossip.
- The air had a delicious coolness after the storm.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cake is delicious.
- I had a delicious ice cream.
- This soup smells delicious.
- We had a delicious meal at the new Italian restaurant.
- The delicious aroma of coffee filled the flat.
- Thank you for the dinner—it was delicious!
- The chef prepared a deliciously complex sauce with local herbs.
- There was a delicious irony in seeing him lose to a beginner.
- She savoured the delicious feeling of freedom after finishing her exams.
- The novel offers up a delicious satire of modern politics.
- He paused, enjoying the delicious tension in the room.
- The critics praised the play's delicious blend of humour and pathos.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'DELI' (a shop with tasty food) + 'CIOUS' (sounds like 'luscious') = delicious food from the deli.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLEASURE IS SWEETNESS / A positive experience is a tasty food.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid overusing 'вкусный' for non-food contexts. 'Delicious' for experiences is metaphorical. Do not confuse with 'delicate' (нежный).
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe people (incorrect: *'a delicious woman'). Overusing in formal writing. Misspelling as 'deliscious'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'delicious' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but this is a metaphorical extension. It describes non-food things that are highly pleasing or enjoyable, often with an element of irony or subtle pleasure (e.g., 'a delicious secret', 'delicious gossip').
No, it is neutral to informal. It is perfect for everyday conversation, food writing, and advertising, but it is too subjective and emotive for formal academic or technical reports.
In informal speech, especially among younger speakers and in US English, 'delish' is sometimes used as a playful abbreviation (e.g., 'This pasta is delish!').
'Delicious' is stronger and more emphatic than 'tasty'. 'Tasty' simply means it has a good flavour, while 'delicious' implies an especially pleasing, often rich or satisfying flavour that gives great enjoyment.