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

When exceptional news fills you with sophisticated joy, you're experiencing "delighted" – an elegant English expression that elevates your communication beyond basic happiness. Understanding delighted in English demonstrates cultural awareness and linguistic sophistication, making it essential for professional English and formal social situations where precise emotional vocabulary creates lasting impressions.

The usage of Delighted in English
The usage of Delighted in English

I. What does Delighted in English mean?

What does delighted in English mean? According to Cambridge and Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, delighted meaning encompasses both verb and adjective functions, pronounced as /dɪˈlaɪ.t̬ɪd/:

  • 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.

What does Delighted in English mean?
What does Delighted in English mean?

To define delighted properly, we must understand it represents refined pleasure, often associated with unexpected positive outcomes that exceed expectations. This sophisticated emotional expression carries more intensity than "pleased" while remaining more controlled than "ecstatic."

II. Word Family of "Delighted": Complete Usage Guide

Understanding the complete word family of delighted in English enhances your ability to express sophisticated pleasure across different grammatical contexts. Each form serves specific purposes in English communication, from describing emotions to characterizing experiences and actions.

Word

Part of Speech

Meaning

Example Sentence

Delight

Noun

Something that brings great pleasure

"The children's laughter was a pure delight"

Verb

To give someone great pleasure

"This music delights audiences worldwide"

Delighted

Adjective

Feeling great pleasure

"I'm delighted with the outstanding results"

Delightful

Adjective

Causing delight or pleasure

"What a delightful surprise party!"

Delighting

Adjective

Having the quality of bringing joy

"His delighting personality wins everyone over"

Delightfully

Adverb

In a manner that causes delight

"The garden was delightfully peaceful today"

III. 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

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

After understanding what delighted in English means, note 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
The structure of Delighted in English as a regular verb

V. The prepositions of Delighted in English as an adjective

The adjective "delighted" commonly appears with various prepositions, each slightly shifting the meaning of the sentence. Mastering these combinations helps ensure your delighted in English usage sounds natural and precise. Here are the typical structures:

Preposition

Usage Meaning

Example

with

Satisfaction with a result or object

I’m delighted with my promotion.

by

Caused by someone/something external

She was delighted by the surprise party.

at

Emotional reaction to news/events

We’re delighted at the announcement.

in

Ongoing engagement or enjoyment

He’s always delighted in English poetry.

for

Happiness on behalf of someone else

We’re delighted for your achievement.

to + verb

Expressing willingness or pleasure in action

I’m delighted to meet you.

that + clause

Stating a reason using a full clause

She’s delighted that her efforts paid off.

Tip: Each preposition after delighted brings a slightly different nuance. For instance, "delighted by" highlights the cause, while "delighted with" emphasizes satisfaction, and "delighted in" suggests enjoyment or interest in something over time.

VI. Synonyms for Delighted in English

Here are some synonyms that can be used interchangeably with delighted in English:

Synonyms for Delighted in English
Synonyms for Delighted in English

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.

VII. 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!

1. Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the correct preposition to complete each sentence: with, by, at, in, for, to.

  1. Sarah was delighted ___ the results of her final exam.

  2. I’m delighted ___ see you again after so long!

  3. They were delighted ___ the warm welcome they received.

  4. Emma is delighted ___ her daughter’s success.

  5. He was delighted ___ the gift she gave him.

  6. We are delighted ___ announce the opening of our new branch.

  7. Julia is delighted ___ modern art and often visits galleries.

  8. The manager is delighted ___ how the team handled the crisis.

  9. I'm delighted ___ your promotion—well done!

  10. The children were delighted ___ the magician’s performance.

Exercise 2: Complete each sentence using the correct form of the word "delight". 

  1. The children were __________ when they saw the snow for the first time.

  2. It was a truly __________ performance by the young pianist.

  3. She smiled __________ as she opened the beautifully wrapped gift.

  4. The food was a __________ to the senses.

  5. We were __________ to hear about your success.

  6. His stories are always __________ and entertaining.

  7. The magician’s tricks kept the audience __________ throughout the show.

  8. I’m __________ with the outcome of the interview.

  9. The fireworks display was a visual __________.

  10. He takes great __________ in helping others succeed.

2. Answer keys

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

  1. with

  2. to

  3. by

  4. for

  5. by

  6. to

  7. in

  8. with

  9. for

  10. by

  1. delighted

  2. delightful

  3. delightfully

  4. delight

  5. delighted

  6. delightful

  7. delighted

  8. delighted

  9. delight

  10. delight

Mastering delighted in English transforms you from a basic communicator into a sophisticated speaker who understands cultural nuances and professional language expectations. By applying these precise contexts and grammatical patterns, you gain access to refined vocabulary that opens doors in business, academic, and social environments where linguistic elegance truly matters.

Chloe
Product Content Admin

Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.

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