deliciously
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /dɪlˈɪʃəsli/
US
- /dɪˈlɪʃəʃli/
Description
- tastily
- delightfully
- pleasantly
- enticingly
- with great pleasure
Imagine biting into a warm chocolate chip cookie, the sweetness melting on your tongue. That moment might be described as deliciously satisfying. Deliciously means in a way that is very pleasant, especially in taste. We use it most for food, but it can also describe things that feel deeply enjoyable. You might hear someone call a bath deliciously relaxing or a song deliciously smooth. It adds a sense of rich pleasure, not just simple approval.
The word deliciously is an adverb, so it tells how something is done or experienced. It comes from the adjective delicious and usually means "very pleasing, especially to the taste." So it says more than "good"—it says "good in a rich, enjoyable way."
Most often, it is used for food and drink: "The apple pie was deliciously sweet" or "The soup was seasoned deliciously." It can also be used in a wider, expressive way for things people enjoy, like "a deliciously warm afternoon," "a deliciously soft blanket," or "a deliciously calm ride." These uses are less common, but they work when you want a poetic, emotional tone.
In simple terms, when something is deliciously good, it is not only acceptable, it is deeply satisfying and pleasurable, often with a touch of luxury or desire. Use it when you want to show a strong, positive feeling rather than just basic quality.
Examples
- 1
Fresh bread
The bread was still deliciously warm from the oven.
- 2
Food texture
The sauce was deliciously creamy without feeling too heavy.
- 3
Physical relief
After the long walk, the cold shower felt deliciously refreshing.
- 4
Comfort
The hotel bed was deliciously soft, and I fell asleep at once.
- 5
Dramatic tension
The movie turns deliciously tense near the end.
Pattern
deliciously + non-food adjective
pleasantly strong or enjoyable in a vivid way
- 6
Ironic comment
Her final comment was deliciously ironic.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- deliciouslyadverb