hearty
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈɑːti/
US
- /ˈhɑrti/
Description
- Warm & friendly
- strong & healthy
- filling (food)
- enthusiastic & sincere
"Hearty" is a warm, lively word. It often describes something full of friendliness, energy, or sincere feeling, like a hearty laugh, a hearty welcome, or hearty congratulations. It can also mean strong and healthy, especially when talking about a person's body or appetite. And when it is used for food, it means filling and satisfying, like a hearty stew on a cold night. In every case, it gives the sense of warmth, strength, and plenty.
The word "hearty" has a warm and flexible feel. Very often, it describes something full of friendliness, energy, and sincere feeling. A hearty laugh is deep and cheerful. A hearty welcome feels genuine and generous. Hearty congratulations are not polite in a cold or formal way; they are warm, eager, and heartfelt. In this sense, the word often suggests openness, warmth, and strong emotion.
It can also describe someone as strong, healthy, and able to deal well with physical effort or hard conditions. If you say a person has a hearty constitution, you mean they are physically strong and healthy. A hearty appetite also fits this idea, suggesting a strong desire for food and good physical health.
Finally, "hearty" is very common for food. A hearty meal is filling, solid, and satisfying rather than light or delicate. You might think of a hearty breakfast, a hearty soup, or a hearty stew. The idea is that the food gives comfort, energy, and a feeling of abundance.
So, whether you are talking about a warm laugh, a strong body, or a filling meal, "hearty" carries the idea of warmth, strength, and satisfaction. It is a vivid word that connects friendliness, health, and comfort in a very natural way.
Examples
- 1
Food
After the long hike, we were ready for a hearty meal.
- 2
Appetite
The baby has a hearty appetite and wants to eat as soon as she wakes up.
- 3
Social reaction
His story got a hearty laugh from everyone at the table.
- 4
Hospitality
We were given a hearty welcome when we arrived at the farm.
- 5
Congratulations
She sent me her hearty congratulations after hearing the news.
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- heartyadjective
Forms
- heartiestsuperlativeadjective
- heartiercomparativeadjective