delicious

1 of 2

adjective

de·​li·​cious di-ˈli-shəs 

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

Adjective

• tasty
• flavorful
• edible
• delightful
• yummy
• scrumptious
• delectable
• heavenly
• appetizing

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

Adjective

The wide assortment of sides like homemade mac and cheese, collard greens, black beans and rice, and cheese grits provide a delicious break from the usual seafood-restaurant options. —Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2025

While people across the country were tucking into their delicious Thanksgiving dinners yesterday, staff at the San Diego Humane Society certainly did not want their shelter dogs and cats to miss out. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025

Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker The weather outside may be frightful, but that shouldn’t stop you from whipping up delicious ice cream treats courtesy of the Ninja Creami. —Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025

Bring the whole family to enjoy thousands of twinkling lights, animals, festive hay rides, warm drinks, delicious food and a visit with Santa. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2025

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

Phrases Containing delicious

• Red Delicious

Rhymes for delicious

• adventitious
• cementitious
• expeditious
• inauspicious
• injudicious
• meretricious
• repetitious
• superstitious
• surreptitious
• unambitious
• unpropitious
• unsuspicious

Kids Definition

delicious

1 of 2 adjective

de·​li·​cious di-ˈlish-əs 

: 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