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Definition of lovely adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

lovely

adjective
 
 
/ˈlʌvli/
 
/ˈlʌvli/
(comparative lovelier, superlative loveliest)
You can also use more lovely and most lovely. (especially British English)Idioms
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  1.  
     beautiful; attractive
    • She looked particularly lovely that night.
    • He has a lovely voice.
    • You've got lovely eyes.
    • We travelled through some lovely countryside.
    • She's got an absolutely lovely face.
    Synonyms beautifulbeautifulpretty ▪ handsome ▪ attractive ▪ lovely ▪ good-looking ▪ gorgeousThese words all describe people who are pleasant to look at.beautiful (most often used of a woman or girl) very pleasant to look at:
    • She looked stunningly beautiful that night.
    pretty (most often used of a girl or woman) pleasant to look at:
    • She’s got a very pretty face.
    Pretty is used most often to talk about girls. When it is used to talk about a woman, it usually suggests that she is like a girl, with small, delicate features.    handsome (of a man) pleasant to look at; (of a woman) pleasant to look at, with large strong features rather than small delicate ones:
    • He was described as ‘tall, dark and handsome’.
    attractive (of a person) pleasant to look at, especially in a sexual way:
    • She’s a very attractive woman.
    lovely (of a person) beautiful; very attractive:
    • She looked particularly lovely that night.
    When you describe somebody as lovely, you are usually showing that you also like them very much.    good-looking (of a person) pleasant to look at, often in a sexual way:
    • She arrived with a very good-looking man.
    gorgeous (informal) (of a person) extremely attractive, especially in a sexual way:
    • You look gorgeous!
     attractive or good-looking?If you describe somebody as attractive you often also mean that they have a pleasant personality as well as being pleasant to look at; good-looking only describes somebody’s physical appearance.Patterns
    • a(n) beautiful/​pretty/​handsome/​attractive/​lovely/​good-looking/​gorgeous girl/​woman
    • a(n) beautiful/​handsome/​attractive/​good-looking/​gorgeous boy/​man
    • a(n) beautiful/​pretty/​handsome/​attractive/​lovely/​good-looking face
    Topics Appearancea2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • feel
    • look
    • …
    adverb
    • particularly
    • really
    • truly
    • …
    See full entry
  2.  
     (informal) very pleasant; wonderful
    • ‘Can I get you anything?’ ‘A cup of tea would be lovely.’
    • What a lovely surprise!
    • How lovely to see you!
    • Isn't it a lovely day?
    • We've had a lovely time.
    • It's a lovely old farm.
    • It's been lovely having you here.
    • (ironic) You've got yourself into a lovely mess, haven't you?
    • to smell/taste/sound lovely
    Synonyms wonderfulwonderfullovely ▪ delightfulThese words all describe an experience, feeling or sight that gives you great pleasure.wonderful that you enjoy very much; that gives you great pleasure; extremely good:
    • We had a wonderful time last night.
    • The weather was absolutely wonderful.
    lovely (especially British English, rather informal) that you enjoy very much; that gives you great pleasure; very attractive:
    • What a lovely day! (= the weather is very good)
    • It’s been lovely having you here.
    delightful that gives you great pleasure; very attractive:
    • a delightful little fishing village
     wonderful, lovely or delightful?All these words can describe times, events, places, sights, feelings and the weather. Wonderful can also describe a chance or ability. Lovely is the most frequent in spoken British English, but in North American English, both spoken and written, wonderful is the most frequent. Delightful is used especially to talk about times, events and places.Patterns
    • wonderful/​lovely/​delightful weather/​views/​scenery
    • It’s wonderful/​lovely to be/​feel/​find/​have/​know/​see…
    • It would be wonderful/​lovely/​delightful if…
    • It’s wonderful/​lovely that…
    • That sounds wonderful/​lovely/​delightful.
    • really/​quite/​absolutely wonderful/​lovely/​delightful
    Extra Examples
    • The cool water felt lovely after being in the hot sun.
    • Your idea of a day on the beach sounds lovely.
    • a hauntingly lovely melody
    • It was a lovely evening—calm and still.
    • The weather here is lovely.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • feel
    • look
    • …
    adverb
    • particularly
    • really
    • truly
    • …
    See full entry
  3.  
     (informal) (of a person) very kind, generous and friendly
    • Her mother was a lovely woman.
    • He is a lovely little boy.
    • She is a lovely old lady and always full of laughter.
    Topics Personal qualitiesa2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • feel
    • look
    • …
    adverb
    • particularly
    • really
    • truly
    • …
    See full entry
    4. Word OriginOld English luflic (see love, -ly).
Idioms
lovely and warm, cold, quiet, etc.
  1. (British English, informal) used when you are emphasizing that something is good because of the quality mentioned
    • It's lovely and warm in here.
See lovely in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: lovely

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