delicious

1 of 2

adjective

de·​li·​cious di-ˈli-shəs How to pronounce delicious (audio)
Synonyms of delicious
1
: appealing to one of the bodily senses especially of taste or smell
a delicious meal
delicious aromas
2
: affording great pleasure : delightful
a delicious bit of gossip
deliciously adverb
deliciousness noun

Delicious

2 of 2

noun

plural Deliciouses or Delicious
: a sweet red or yellow eating apple of U.S. origin that has a crown of five rounded prominences on the end opposite the stem

Synonyms of delicious

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of delicious in a Sentence

Adjective This is the most delicious ice cream I have ever eaten. Delicious aromas were floating from the kitchen. a delicious bit of gossip
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Start your day with a delicious coffee and a pastry—two things that locals take very seriously—at one of its many hip cafés (Hart Bakery is one of the best). — Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026 These cookies are not only delicious, but have a rich history, too. — Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 For dessert, there’s a delicious coconut cake or, for the chocolate lovers, a fancy sort of s’mores cake. — Connie Ogle july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 Inspired by the delicious tropical fruit—and the cocktail of the same name—lychee martini nails feature a milky, barely there pink with subtle white undertones that mimic the fruit’s juicy flesh. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for delicious

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, "delightful to the senses, choice (of food, drink), loving luxury," borrowed from Anglo-French delicius, delicious (also continental Old French), borrowed from Late Latin dēliciōsus, from Latin dēlicia "pleasure, delight, (in plural) things affording pleasure, luxuries,culinary delicacies" (from dēlicere "to lure, entice" + -ia -ia entry 1) + -ōsus -ous — more at delight entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of delicious was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing delicious

Rhymes for delicious

See All Rhymes for delicious

Browse Nearby Words

Delichon
delicious
Delicious
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Delicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delicious. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

delicious

1 of 2 adjective
de·​li·​cious di-ˈlish-əs How to pronounce delicious (audio)
: giving great pleasure : delightful
especially : very pleasing to the taste
deliciously adverb
deliciousness noun

Delicious

2 of 2 noun
De·​li·​cious
di-ˈlish-əs
plural Deliciouses or Delicious
: a sweet red or yellow apple of U.S. origin that has five bumps arranged around the end opposite the stem

More from Merriam-Webster on delicious

Nglish: Translation of delicious for Spanish Speakers

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