delicious

1 of 2

adjective

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

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
Nothing beats a delicious meal that comes together in one pot while delivering maximum flavor with minimal cleanup. Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025 The result is every bit as delicious as the traditional recipe, but with the bonus of reducing both waste and cost. Laura McLively, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025 The desserts are quite lovely (the cookies and cream cheesecake was my personal favorite), and each sandwich is just as delicious as the next. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025 Pick from an assortment of delicious recipes doled out by a roster of sprightly locals, from apple strudel to Sacher-style chocolate gâteaux. Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for delicious

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin deliciosus, from Latin deliciae delights, from delicere to allure

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1898, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Delicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delicious. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

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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