groovy

IPA/ˈɡruːvi/
KK[ɡrˈuvi]IPA/ˈɡruːvi/

groovy — adjective

  • groovypositive
  • grooviercomparative
  • grooviestsuperlative

1. looking fashionable in a way that draws attention, often with a fun retro feel b

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

looking fashionable in a way that draws attention, often with a fun retro feel borrowed from the 1960s and 70s.

Example

Liang wore a pair of groovy bell-bottom jeans to the costume party.

attributive: groovy + clothing noun

The cafe near the station has a groovy 70s atmosphere with lava lamps and beaded curtains.

groovy + atmosphere / decade reference

Common collocations
  • groovy outfit
  • groovy hairstyle
  • groovy music
  • groovy vibe
Synonyms
  • funky

    very close in meaning; also carries the retro / 60s-70s vibe

  • trendy

    neutral and current; lacks the retro flavour

  • hip

    informal; suggests being in fashion among a particular crowd

Antonyms
  • square

    old-fashioned slang for boring or unfashionable; pairs naturally with this sense

  • drab

    dull and lacking colour or interest

Usage Note

Often used about visual style with a clear retro or hippie association — clothes, decor, hairstyles, music posters. Distinguish from sense 2 (a general approval word) by checking whether the focus is on look and style.

Common Mistakes

I love your groovy lunch.
I love your groovy jacket.
this sense describes how something looks, not how it tastes or works.

2. very good or pleasing, used as a casual word of approval — often sounds dated or

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

very good or pleasing, used as a casual word of approval — often sounds dated or playful today.

Example

Ritu thought the pizza place near campus was pretty groovy.

predicative: be + groovy as approval

"Sounds groovy," said Niran when Yael suggested camping by the lake.

exclamatory reply: 'Sounds groovy'

Common collocations
  • sounds groovy
  • feels groovy
  • totally groovy
  • pretty groovy
Synonyms
  • cool

    the modern, neutral replacement most speakers reach for

  • awesome

    stronger approval; current with younger speakers

  • wonderful

    warmer and not slangy; works in more contexts

Antonyms
  • lousy

    informal opposite — bad or disappointing

  • awful

    neutral opposite — very bad

Usage Note

Used as a general thumbs-up rather than to describe a visual style. Often sounds dated or jokey; younger speakers usually pick 'awesome' or 'cool' in the same slot. Distinguish from sense 1 by checking whether the speaker is praising the thing overall (this sense) or describing how it looks (sense 1).

Common Mistakes

That is a groovy idea, sir, I will action it immediately.
That is a great idea, sir, I will action it immediately.
'groovy' is too casual and dated for formal work emails.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

These four words all express that something is pleasing or admirable, but they sit on very different parts of the slang timeline. 'Cool' is the neutral, evergreen choice — any speaker, any decade, any topic, from a piece of music to a calm response under pressure. 'Awesome' is stronger and currently dominant among younger speakers in North America; it pushes the praise up a notch. 'Groovy' belongs to the 1960s and 70s hippie scene and now sounds either nostalgic or playfully old-fashioned — picking it signals you know it is dated. 'Hip' is narrower; it describes being in fashion among a particular crowd, often a music or arts scene. Compare 'That song is cool' (anyone), 'That song is awesome' (excited teen), 'That song is groovy' (jokey or retro vibe), and 'That bar is hip' (in with the right people).

cool ↗awesome ↗groovy ↗hip ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • sounds groovy
  • feels groovy

Etymology

English (jazz slang)English (1960s counterculture)English

Came from American jazz slang of the 1930s, where being 'in the groove' meant playing with effortless rhythm — like a needle sitting perfectly in a record groove. The adjective 'groovy' followed, and in the 1960s hippie movement it spread far beyond music to mean fashionable or excellent in general. Today it carries that retro flavour with it.