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What does Delighted in English mean? Usage and exercises of Delighted in English

What does Delighted in English mean? Does it simply imply "happiness"? In the following article, PREP will share the definition and usages of Delighted in English as both a verb and an adjective. Let's dive in!

I. What does Delighted in English mean?
II. The structure of Delighted in English as a regular verb
III. Which prepositions does the adjective Delighted in English go with?
IV. Synonyms for Delighted in English
V. Exercises on Delighted in English with Answers
VI. Master IELTS Skills for a High Band Score

I. What does Delighted in English mean?

What does Delighted in English mean? According to Cambridge and Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, Delighted is pronounced as /dɪˈlaɪ.t̬ɪd/ and can function as both a verb and an adjective:

As a verb, Delighted is often in the past simple tense and means: to give someone great pleasure or satisfaction. For example: John's academic success delighted his family.
As an adjective, Delighted means: very pleased. For example: I was delighted to receive the invitation to the party.

Words/phrases associated with Delight:

Words/ phrases associated with Delight	Meaning	Example
Turkish delight	a type of jelly candy that incorporates flavors like rosewater, bergamot, cinnamon, or orange	I love eating Turkish delight.
In transports of delight (phrase)	extremely pleased or happy	Maria was in transports of delight as she held the scene.
Much to someone's delight (idiom)	someone is very surprised, happy, unhappy, etc. about something	I actually gave the guy his money back, much to his delight.

II. The structure of Delighted in English as a regular verb

After understanding what Delighted in English means, let's take note of the sentence structure when Delighted in English functions as a regular verb in the simple past tense:

Subject + delighted + object

For example:

The Blackpink concert delighted audiences last week.
Linda’s academic success delighted her family.

The structure of Delighted in English as a regular verb

III. Which prepositions does the adjective Delighted in English go with?

So, what are the possible structures when Delighted in English is used as an adjective? Which prepositions can Delighted in English be paired with? Let's explore the table below with PREP!

Which prepositions does the adjective Delighted in English go with?	Example
Subject + to be + delighted + at + something.	Anna is delighted at the news of her promotion.
Subject + to be + delighted + by + something.	Alex was delighted by the unexpected gift from his friend.
Subject + to be + delighted + with + something.	I am delighted with the results of the project.
Subject + to be + delighted + for + something.	We are delighted for your success in the competition.
Subject + to be + delighted + that + clause.	Linda is delighted that her efforts have been recognized by the team.
Subject + to be + delighted + to V.	I’m delighted to meet You.

➡ From the table above, we can see that Delighted in English is paired with the prepositions: at, by, with, and for.

IV. Synonyms for Delighted in English

Let's list some synonyms that can be used interchangeably with Delighted in English with PREP!

Synonyms for Delighted in English	Example
Happy /ˈhæp.i/ (adjective)	Linda felt happy after receiving the good news about her prize.
Cheerful /ˈʧɪə.fəl/ (adjective)	The children's laughter made the atmosphere cheerful during the family gathering.
Pleased /pli:zd/ (adjective)	The artist was pleased with the positive feedback on her latest artwork.
Glad /ɡlæd/ (adjective)	I'm glad you could join us for the celebration.
Ecstatic /ɪkˈstæt.ɪk/ (adjective)	Winning the championship left the team ecstatic and overjoyed.
Elated /ɪˈleɪ.tɪd/ (adjective)	The successful completion of the project left him elated and proud.
Content /kənˈtent/ (adjective)	Sitting by the fireplace with a good book, Simon felt content and at peace.
In a good mood /ɪn ə ɡʊd mud/ (Phrase)	After a relaxing weekend, Robert was in a good mood when he returned to work on Monday.
On cloud nine /ɒn klaʊd naɪn/ (Idiom)	After receiving the scholarship, Maria felt like she was on cloud nine.

V. Exercises on Delighted in English with Answers

To gain a better understanding of the usage of Delighted in English, please complete the exercises provided by PREP below!

Exercise: Determine if Delighted in the sentence functions as a verb or an adjective:

	Verb	Adjective
Example: My first prize in the English competition delighted my parents. ➞ delighted acts as a verb.	✅
Example: It is delighted for me to present my thesis today. ➞ delighted acts as an adjective.		✅
1. The songs of country people and of sailors delighted me.
2. Peter's academic success delighted his family.
3. He delighted his guests with a wonderful performance.
4. She was delighted to receive a handwritten letter from her long-lost friend.
5. The students were delighted with the surprise field trip to the zoo.
6. We were delighted by the breathtaking view from the mountaintop.
7. The puppy delighted everyone with its playful antics.
8. The chef delighted the customers with a special menu for the evening.
9. The audience delighted in the comedian's hilarious jokes.
10. We were delighted by the delicious aroma of homemade cookies in the kitchen.

Answer:

	Verb	Adjective
1. The songs of country people and of sailors delighted me.	✅
2. Peter's academic success delighted his family.	✅
3. He delighted his guests with a wonderful performance.	✅
4. She was delighted to receive a handwritten letter from her long-lost friend.		✅
5. The students were delighted with the surprise field trip to the zoo.		✅
6. We were delighted by the breathtaking view from the mountaintop.		✅
7. The puppy delighted everyone with its playful antics.	✅
8. The chef delighted the customers with a special menu for the evening.	✅
9. The audience delighted in the comedian's hilarious jokes.	✅
10. We were delighted by the delicious aroma of homemade cookies in the kitchen.		✅

VI. Master IELTS Skills for a High Band Score

PREP hopes that through this article, you have grasped the meaning and how to use Delighted in English as both a verb and an adjective. If you’re ready to boost your IELTS band score, check out our expert-led courses below:

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Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.