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

At Colin King’s new Manhattan apartment, on the 11th floor of a 1930 Chelsea building, casement windows and a generous terrace look out across neighboring rooftops, the city unfolding in a postcard-perfect sweep. — Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026

Even as some Americans look fondly to Canada and Western Europe, with their generous welfare states, these countries have market economies with plenty of private enterprise. — Jason Thurlkill, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

The laptop’s port selection is generous, with a pair of USB Type-C ports on the left (40Gbps, supporting DisplayPort and power delivery). — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

It was established in 2002 through a generous gift by Jay and Patty Baker. — David Moin, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 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