delight
B2Formal to Neutral. More elevated than 'pleasure' but less formal than 'jubilation'.
Definition
Meaning
a strong feeling of great pleasure and enjoyment.
1. something or someone that gives great pleasure; 2. to give someone great pleasure and enjoyment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Emphasizes a vivid, often keen or sharp, pleasure. Can imply charm or captivation, especially in the verb form ('to delight in'). Often associated with childlike or innocent joy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal semantic difference. The verb 'delight in' is slightly more common in British writing. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/refined in American casual speech; standard in British.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to delight in sth/doing sthto be delighted by/with/at sthit delights sb that...sth delights sbVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Turkish delight”
- “be in the seventh heaven/delight”
- “(old-fashioned) bells of delight”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare in core operations; used in marketing or HR contexts ('We delight our customers', 'a delight to work with').
Academic
Used in literary criticism, psychology, and philosophy to describe aesthetic or emotional responses.
Everyday
Common for expressing strong positive reactions to experiences, gifts, or people.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The garden's whimsical sculptures never fail to delight visitors.
- He delights in finding obscure vinyl records at car boot sales.
American English
- The magician's act delighted the audience in Madison Square Garden.
- She delights in proving her critics wrong.
adverb
British English
- She smiled delightedly upon opening the handwritten letter.
- The children watched delightedly as the bubbles floated away.
American English
- He accepted the award delightedly, thanking his mentors.
- The fans cheered delightedly after the final buzzer.
adjective
British English
- We were delighted with the results of the village fête.
- He gave a delighted chuckle when he saw the puppy.
American English
- The team was delighted by the unexpected promotion.
- A delighted crowd cheered the winning touchdown.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children shouted with delight at the beach.
- Ice cream is a delight in summer.
- To my delight, I passed the driving test on the first try.
- The small bakery is a real delight for cake lovers.
- She takes great delight in challenging outdated conventions.
- The novel's ending was a sheer delight, both surprising and satisfying.
- He is a connoisseur who delights in the subtleties of single-malt whisky.
- There was a certain malicious delight in watching the arrogant politician stumble.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bright LIGHT that brings joy: de-LIGHT.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLEASURE IS LIGHT / PLEASURE IS A TREASURE ('a delight to behold', 'a hidden delight').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'восторг' in all contexts; 'delight' is often milder. The verb 'to delight' is active, while 'восхищаться' is reflexive. Don't overuse for simple pleasure ('удовольствие').
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect verb pattern: 'I delight to read' (correct: 'I delight in reading'). Overuse as a verb in casual speech. Confusing spelling: 'delite'. Using 'with delight' incorrectly after adjective: 'I am delight' (correct: 'I am delighted').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'delight' as a verb CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It ranges from neutral to slightly formal. In casual speech, 'love' or 'really enjoy' are more common, but 'delight' is perfectly acceptable in most contexts.
'Delight' is stronger and more vivid than 'pleasure'. It often implies a more active, keen, or charming joy, sometimes with an element of surprise.
Yes. As a noun: 'It was a delight.' As a verb: 'This will delight you.' The adjective is 'delighted' and the adverb is 'delightedly'.
Using the wrong preposition. It is 'delight IN doing something' or 'delight somebody WITH something', not 'delight to do' (though 'be delighted to do' is correct).