delight

/dɪˈlaɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈlaɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈlīt dē-/ (ame, mw)

delight — noun

  • delightsingular
  • delightsplural

1. a deep feeling of happiness and pleasure that comes when something very good or

1.名詞B1
釋義

a deep feeling of happiness and pleasure that comes when something very good or satisfying happens to you

例句

Layla watched the sunset over the ocean with pure delight.

collocation: pure delight / great delight

The children screamed with delight when they saw the small puppy.

同義詞
  • pleasure

    more general and less intense than delight; can refer to physical satisfaction

  • joy

    similar intensity but often linked to a specific event or relationship rather than a reaction

  • happiness

    a longer-lasting emotional state, not a sudden burst of good feeling

反義詞
  • displeasure

    the opposite feeling of annoyance or dissatisfaction

  • sorrow

    a deep feeling of sadness rather than happiness

文法句型

delight + at/in

with delight

to one's delight

用法筆記

Typically uncountable. Common in fixed phrases such as 'to one's delight' and 'with delight' that express a reaction to good news or events.

常見錯誤

❌I felt delight for winning the prize.
✅I felt delight at winning the prize.
💡The preposition after 'delight' is usually 'at' or 'in', not 'for'.
❌She received the news with a delight.
✅She received the news with delight.
💡In this fixed phrase, 'delight' is uncountable and takes no article.

2. a person, object, event, or experience that brings you a lot of happiness and ma

2.名詞B1
釋義

a person, object, event, or experience that brings you a lot of happiness and makes you feel pleased

例句

The old bookshop on Green Street is a true delight for readers.

pattern: [something] is a delight

For Nikhil, his garden has been a constant delight since early spring.

同義詞
  • joy

    can also mean a source of happiness, e.g. 'my greatest joy'

  • treat

    more informal and suggests something special but less emotionally deep

反義詞
  • disappointment

    something that fails to meet expectations and makes you unhappy

文法句型

be a delight

a delight + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Often used in the pattern 'be a delight' followed by a to-infinitive clause, e.g. 'a delight to watch' or 'a delight to meet'. Countable in this sense, unlike sense 1.

常見錯誤

❌The concert was delight.
✅The concert was a delight.
💡In this sense (source of joy), 'delight' is countable and needs an article.

3. the enjoyable features, qualities, or experiences that make an activity or place

3.名詞B2
釋義

the enjoyable features, qualities, or experiences that make an activity or place worth doing or being part of

例句

Maja enjoys the simple delights of walking through the forest every weekend.

plural form: the delights of [something]

Ari discovered the delights of cooking fresh vegetables from the local market.

同義詞
  • pleasures

    more general and less emotionally intense; can refer to simple enjoyments

  • charms

    suggests an attractive or appealing quality, often of a place or person

文法句型

the delights of [something]

用法筆記

Almost always used in the plural form 'delights' when referring to the pleasures that something can offer. This sense works well with 'of' to specify the source.

常見錯誤

❌The delight of the city include many parks.
✅The delights of the city include many parks.
💡Use the plural 'delights' when listing multiple enjoyable features.

delight — verb