homely

/ˈhəʊmli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhəʊmli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhōm-lē/ (ame, mw)

homely — adjective

  • homelypositive
  • homeliercomparative
  • homeliestsuperlative

1. describes a room, house, meal, or way of living that is simple and not fancy, ye

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes a room, house, meal, or way of living that is simple and not fancy, yet feels nice and appropriate

例句

The seaside inn had a homely feel, with wooden floors and simple flower-print curtains.

Jing served a homely stew of potatoes and carrots that everyone at the table loved.

collocation: homely stew / homely cooking

同義詞
  • plain

    focuses on lack of decoration, without the positive warmth of homely

  • simple

    more neutral; homely adds a feeling of comfort

  • unpretentious

    more formal; describes a deliberate lack of showiness

反義詞
  • fancy

    elaborate and expensive-looking, opposite of plain-but-pleasant

  • ornate

    heavily decorated, not simple

用法筆記

This sense is typical of British English. In the US the same word more often carries a negative meaning — see sense 2.

常見錯誤

❌The room was homely and ugly.
✅The room was homely and welcoming.
💡In British English, homely means pleasantly simple, not ugly.

2. used to describe someone whose face or body is not nice to look at, often as a g

2.形容詞B2
釋義

used to describe someone whose face or body is not nice to look at, often as a gentler way of saying ugly

例句

The old man was kind but homely, with a crooked nose and missing front teeth.

Andre thought the newspaper's description of the actress as homely was unfair and unkind.

euphemistic use in US English; often considered unkind

同義詞
  • unattractive

    more neutral and less harsh than homely

  • ugly

    stronger and more direct; homely is softer

  • plain-looking

    focuses on lack of beauty rather than ugliness

反義詞
  • beautiful

    having great physical beauty, the opposite

  • handsome

    especially for men; good-looking in a strong way

用法筆記

Common in American English as a polite-sounding alternative to 'ugly', though many people still find it offensive. This sense is almost never used in British English.

常見錯誤

❌She described her new homely apartment.' (intended: plain-but-pleasant)
✅She described her new homely apartment.
💡In US English this means the apartment is ugly. Use 'cozy' or 'homey' for a positive meaning.

3. giving you the same relaxed, warm, and safe feeling that you experience inside y

3.形容詞B1
釋義

giving you the same relaxed, warm, and safe feeling that you experience inside your own home

例句

The living room was decorated with warm colours and soft sofas to give it a homely atmosphere.

collocation: homely atmosphere / homely warmth

Wei felt a homely warmth when he saw the fire burning in the stone fireplace.

同義詞
  • cozy

    more common in US English; similar warmth, less tied to the idea of home

  • homey

    US spelling of the same idea; informal and warm

  • comfortable

    broader meaning; lacks the specific 'like home' feeling

反義詞
  • cold

    unfriendly and uninviting, the opposite of warm and cozy

  • uninviting

    not appealing or welcoming

用法筆記

This sense is closest in meaning to 'homey' (US spelling) and is common in British English. Unlike sense 1, which focuses on simplicity, this sense focuses on the emotional warmth of a space.