WordGarden.iovoluptuously
C2Pronunciation
UK
US
Meanings
Adverb
in a sensually indulgent or sexually alluring way
in a rich, lush, or luxuriantly expressive way
Beyond the definition
Imagine a ripe peach, full of juice and fragrance. That is the kind of rich pleasure this word brings to mind. "Voluptuously" describes doing something in a way that feels sensual, soft, rich, or deeply pleasing to the senses. It is often used for movement, appearance, sound, or style. Someone might smile voluptuously, stretch out on a sofa voluptuously, or speak in a slow, warm, inviting way. The word suggests fullness, comfort, and a touch of luxury. It is not plain or restrained; it feels generous and deeply felt.
You can also use it for things that seem lush and abundant. A singer's voice may fill a room voluptuously, or a garden may grow in a way that feels thick, rich, and alive. The word usually carries a sense of pleasure and excess, but in a warm and attractive way.
"Voluptuously" means in a sensual, rich, or luxurious way. It usually suggests pleasure that is physical or strongly felt through the senses: sight, touch, taste, smell, or sound. The word brings together fullness, softness, richness, and indulgence, often with a hint of sensuality. It is commonly used to describe how someone moves, smiles, speaks, reclines, dresses, or enjoys something.
The word comes from the Latin voluptas, meaning "pleasure" or "delight." Because of that history, it often points to more than simple enjoyment. It suggests pleasure that feels deep, luxurious, and a little excessive. A dessert may melt voluptuously on the tongue. Music may rise voluptuously through a room. Fabric may fall voluptuously around the body. A landscape may spread out voluptuously in rich color and detail.
It can describe physical beauty, especially when the writer wants to suggest softness, curves, or sensual appeal. But it is not limited to people. It also works well for food, art, music, gardens, rooms, clothing, and mood. In all these uses, the idea is similar: something feels richly pleasurable rather than plain, sharp, or minimal.
Historically, the related adjective "voluptuous" could carry ideas of luxury, desire, or even moral excess. Some of that feeling still remains. Because of that, "voluptuously" often sounds literary, expressive, or slightly erotic rather than neutral. When used for people, it can sound admiring, but it can also feel objectifying if the context is careless. In most good uses, the word highlights richness, pleasure, and sensual fullness.
Examples
- 1
Sensual tone
She smiled voluptuously and settled deeper into the sofa.
- Usage
often used in a sensual, slightly literary way
- 2
Singing
The singer let the final note linger voluptuously in the room.
- 3
Rich fabric
Thick velvet curtains hung voluptuously around the bed.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- seductively
- lushly
- indulgently
Contrast
- austerely
- ascetically
Used with (collocations)
- voluptuously soft
- voluptuously curved
- voluptuously rich
Word family
- voluptuous
- voluptuousness
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- voluptuouslyadverb