delight

UK: /dɪˈlaɪt/ US: /dɪˈlaɪt/ ,(di līt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•light /dɪˈlaɪt/   n. 

1. great enjoyment;
   joy;
   happiness:
   [uncountable] I get a great deal of delight from watching my children read their books.
2. something that gives great pleasure:
   [countable] The zoo is a delight to visit.

v. 

3. [ ~ + obj] to give delight to:
   The circus will delight young and old alike.
4. [ ~ + in + verb-ing] to have or take great pleasure:
   She delights in walking.

de•light•ed, adj.: [ be + ~ + to + verb]

I was delighted to see you.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•light  (di līt′), n. 

1. a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment;
   joy;
   rapture:
   She takes great delight in her job.
2. something that gives great pleasure:
   The dance was a delight to see.

v.t. 

3. to give great pleasure, satisfaction, or enjoyment to;
   please highly:
   The show delighted everyone.

v.i. 

4. to have great pleasure;
   take pleasure (fol. by in or an infinitive):
   She delights in going for long walks in the country.

• Anglo-French, Old French, derivative of verb, verbal
• Latin delectāre (see delectable); (noun, nominal) respelling, respelled (as above) of Middle English delit
• Anglo-French deliter, Old French delitier
• (verb, verbal) respelling, respelled, after light¹, of earlier delite, Middle English deliten 1175–1225

de•light′er, n. 
de•light′ing•ly, adv. 
de•light′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. transport, delectation. See pleasure. 
• 3. charm, enrapture.

Antonyms

• 1. distress.
• 2. disappointment.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

delight / dɪˈlaɪt/ verb

1. (transitive) to please greatly
2. (intransitive) followed by in: to take great pleasure (in)

noun

1. extreme pleasure or satisfaction; joy
2. something that causes this

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French delit, from deleitier to please, from Latin dēlectāre, from dēlicere to allure, from de- + lacere to entice; see delicious; English spelling influenced by light