Dictionary
1lovely
adjective love·ly \ˈləv-lē\
: attractive or beautiful especially in a graceful way
: very good or likable
: very pleasing
love·li·erlove·li·est
Full Definition of LOVELY
1
obsolete : lovable
2
: delightful for beauty, harmony, or grace : attractive
4
: eliciting love by moral or ideal worth
— love·li·ly \ˈləv-lə-lē\ adverb
— love·li·ness \ˈləv-lē-nəs\ noun
— lovely adverb
See lovely defined for English-language learners
See lovely defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
First Known Use of LOVELY
before 12th century
Related to LOVELY
- Synonyms
- A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], boss [slang], brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool [slang], corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope [slang], down [slang], dynamite, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous [slang], fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters (also gangbuster), gilt-edged (or gilt-edge), gone [slang], grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype [slang], immense, jim-dandy, keen, excellent, marvelous (or marvellous), mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, out-of-sight [slang], par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat [slang], prime, primo [slang], prize, prizewinning, quality, radical [slang], righteous [slang], sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-flight, top-notch, top-of-the-line, topping [chiefly British], top-shelf, unsurpassed, wizard [chiefly British], wonderful
Synonym Discussion of LOVELY
beautiful, lovely, handsome, pretty, comely, fair mean exciting sensuous or aesthetic pleasure. beautiful applies to whatever excites the keenest of pleasure to the senses and stirs emotion through the senses <beautiful mountain scenery>. lovely is close to beautiful but applies to a narrower range of emotional excitation in suggesting the graceful, delicate, or exquisite <a lovely melody>. handsome suggests aesthetic pleasure due to proportion, symmetry, or elegance <a handsome Georgian mansion>. pretty often applies to superficial or insubstantial attractiveness <a painter of conventionally pretty scenes>. comely is like handsome in suggesting what is coolly approved rather than emotionally responded to <the comely grace of a dancer>. fair suggests beauty because of purity, flawlessness, or freshness <fair of face>.
2lovely
noun
: a beautiful woman : a lovely woman
plural lovelies
Full Definition of LOVELY
1
: a beautiful woman
2
: a lovely object
See lovely defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of LOVELY
1652
LOVELY Defined for Kids
lovely
adjective love·ly \ˈləv-lē\
love·li·erlove·li·est
Definition of LOVELY for Kids
1
: very attractive or beautiful <You look lovely in that outfit.>
2
: very pleasing <We had a lovely time.>
— love·li·ness noun
Learn More About LOVELY
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: lovely firPrevious Word in the Dictionary: lovelornAll Words Near: lovely
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up lovely? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).