adjective

lovely

Very attractive, pleasant, or enjoyable.

The garden looks lovely with all the roses in bloom.

Etymology

Lovely combines love with an adjective-forming ending. It originally concerns what inspires love and broadens naturally to things found beautiful, pleasant, or delightful.

More examples

  • We have a lovely time whenever our cousins visit.
  • She has a lovely voice that calms the baby.
  • This room is even lovelier in the morning light.

Forms

lovely · lovelier · loveliest

loveliness noun — The quality of being beautiful or delightful.

Similar words

beautiful
Emphasizes beauty rather than general pleasantness or enjoyment.
delightful
Emphasizes the pleasure something brings rather than its appearance.
pleasant
Expresses milder approval, suggesting comfort or enjoyment without enthusiasm.