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

Known for its sumptuous cuisine and delicious desserts, Italy has tourists lining up for gelato all over the peninsula. — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

Black Pepper Candied Bacon Fogo de Chão/MANNY RODRIGUEZ At Fogo de Chão, this delicious bacon dish is oven roasted with brown sugar, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

One of our favorite newcomers is Saie, which has just launched an edit of SuperSuede eye shadows in 11 delicious individual autumnal shades. — Elle Turner, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026

Both delicious and healthy, farrotto is made from stock cooked with corn cobs, which makes for an intense corn experience. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

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