What is lovely? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of lovely in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of lovely

lovelyadjective

đẹp, xinh xắn, có duyên

/ˈlʌvli/

Definition & pronunciation of <strong>lovely</strong>

Where does the word lovely come from?

The word "lovely" has its roots in Old English and Germanic languages. The earliest recorded use of a word that sounds similar to "lovely" dates back to the 8th century in Old English as "lufum" or "lufian," which meant "to love" or "to be loved." The word evolved over time, and by the 14th century, it had taken the form of "lovely," which referred to something pleasing or delightful. The Old English word "luf" also meant "love" or "affection," and when combined with the suffix "-ly," it became a noun that described something endearing or charming. In modern English, "lovely" is used to express admiration, appreciation, or affection for something or someone, and its origins reflect how our language has developed over time to convey emotions and descriptions in a rich and nuanced way.

Vocabulary summary lovely

typeadjective

meaningbeautiful, pretty, lovely, cute, charming, charming

meaning(colloquial) interesting, fun, enjoyable

meaning(US, American meaning) beautiful (morally)

typenoun

meaning(US, slang) beautiful young woman

Example of vocabulary lovelynamespace

meaning

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.
meaning

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.
meaning

very kind, generous and friendly

  • Her mother was a lovely woman.

Idioms of vocabulary lovely

lovely and warm, cold, quiet, etc.
(British English, informal)used when you are emphasizing that something is good because of the quality mentioned
  • It's lovely and warm in here.

Comment ()