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

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
No ermine robe was too soft, and no dish too delicious, for the cardinals of the past. — Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026 Imad, from Lebanon, operates back of the house cooking chicken shawarma, gyros, falafel and their delicious house salads. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026 The kitchen sends out delicious wings and other snacks while bartenders serve affordable buckets of beer and seltzer. — Fritz Hahn, Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2026 In This Article A good sauce can take an ordinary dish to new and delicious heights. — Laura Manzano, Martha Stewart, 14 Oct. 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

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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 20 Oct. 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
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