generous

1 of 2

adjective

gen·​er·​ous ˈje-nə-rəs 

ˈjen-rə-

1

a

: liberal in giving : openhanded

a generous benefactor

b

: marked by abundance or ample proportions

… wide overhangs and generous verandas …

—Lewis Mumford

: copious

a thin salt-and-pepper moustache interrupted by a generous nose

—Richard Zabel

c

: characterized by a noble or kindly spirit : magnanimous, kindly

a generous heart

2

archaic : highborn

generously adverb

generousness noun

generousness

2 of 2

noun

gen·​er·​ous·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being generous

an unusual generousness of spirit

—T. O. Heggen

Synonyms of generous

Adjective

• charitable
• liberal
• benevolent

Choose the Right Synonym for generous

liberal, generous, bountiful, munificent mean giving or given freely and unstintingly.

liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given.

a teacher liberal with her praise

generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift.

a generous offer of help

bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing.

children spoiled by bountiful presents

munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes.

a munificent foundation grant

Examples of generous in a Sentence

Adjective

The school raised the money through donations from generous alumni.

He was generous with both his time and his money.

She has always been very generous toward the poor.

This restaurant is known for its generous portions.

a generous helping of mashed potatoes

She has a generous heart.

He has generous sympathy for unemployed workers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Off the pitch, Kvaratskhelia was generous, obsessed over his self-improvement, and unfailingly polite. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 29 May 2026

The city’s university initiative, including the possibility of a generous long-term land lease, gives Chula Vista real leverage. —Christos Korgan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026

After Susan Newhouse died, in 2015, Donald became an active and generous supporter of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, which is devoted to finding a cure for the disease and lending support to caregivers. —David Remnick, New Yorker, 29 May 2026

But the law was written in a different era, when travel was simpler and airlines were more generous with their passengers. —Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 29 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle French or Latin; Middle French genereus, from Latin generosus, from gener-, genus

First Known Use

Adjective

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for generous

• ungenerous

Kids Definition

generous

adjective

gen·​er·​ous ˈjen-(ə-)rəs 

1

: free in giving or sharing

2

: noble entry 1 sense 5, high-minded

3

: abundant

a generous supply

generously adverb

generousness noun