generous

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

Synonyms of generous

• 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

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

Manipulative people can be extraordinarily generous, attentive, and supportive when there is something to gain, which is precisely why judging character from early impressions is so difficult. — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Owners should check the calorie information on the food label rather than relying solely on the suggested serving size, which may be too generous. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

The rooms The Park View Loft, the sole top-floor unit and the hotel's showpiece, runs a generous 538 square feet, with unglazed terracotta tile wrapping the bed and bathroom and a circular tub large enough for two. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026

Her generous donations to children’s hospitals, conservation efforts, the Salvation Army, college scholarships and more earned her the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2022. — Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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