nice
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- pleasant, agreeable, attractive, charming, delightful, good, pleasurable
- kind, courteous, friendly, likable or likeable, polite, well-mannered
- neat, dainty, fine, tidy, trim
- subtle, careful, delicate, fastidious, fine, meticulous, precise, strict

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Contrasted words: coarse, gross, vulgar, callow, crude, green, raw, uncouth, lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss, slack, careless, sloppy, slovenly, haphazard, happy-go-lucky, hit-or-miss, random, heedless, inadvertent
Related Words: discerning, discriminating, penetrating, overparticular, queasy, careful, meticulous, punctilious, scrupulous, judicious, sage, sapient, wise, rigid, strict, stringent, exquisite, rare

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English Thesaurus: friendly, warm, nice, amiable, welcoming, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

Nice /niːs/
a city on the Mediterranean coast of France, famous as a fashionable place for tourists to stay, and also a port and industrial area

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

nice S1 W2 /naɪs/ adjective
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: 'stupid', from Latin nescius 'lacking knowledge', from nescire 'not to know']

1. GOOD pleasant, attractive, or enjoyable:
They’ve got a very nice house.
Did you have a nice time?
It’s such a nice day (=good weather), why not go for a swim?
What a nice surprise!
look/taste/smell nice
You look nice in that suit.
Mm, something smells nice!
nice big/new/long etc
a nice long holiday
a nice new car
nice and warm/clean/easy/quiet etc
The house seemed nice and tidy.
One of the nice things about Christmas is having all the family together.
► You can use nice and followed by another adjective after be: The weather was nice and warm. But before a noun you must leave out ‘and’ | a nice hot (NOT nice and hot) drink

2. FRIENDLY friendly, kind, or polite:
Dave’s a really nice guy.
That’s not a very nice thing to say about your sister!
nice about
Tim spilt wine all over the sofa, but Martha was very nice about it.
nice to
They were very nice to me while I was ill.
it is nice of somebody (to do something)
It was nice of you to help.
He told me, in the nicest possible way, that I was interfering too much.

3. SOMETHING YOU WANT used to say what you like or what you think would be good or useful:
It’s quite nice to live so close to work.
it is nice to do something
It would be nice to have a break.
that’d be nice (=used to accept an offer or agree with a suggestion)
‘Would you like a cup of coffee?’ ‘Yes, that’d be nice.’
I thought it would be a nice idea to send them some flowers.
It would be nice if you could let us know in advance.


SPOKEN PHRASES

4. it’s nice to know (that) used to mean that you feel happier when you know something:
I still haven’t heard any news – it would be nice to know what’s happening.
It’s nice to know that there’s someone nearby if she needs help.

5. have a nice day! American English used to say goodbye to someone, especially to customers in shops and restaurants when they are leaving

6. nice to meet you used as a friendly greeting when you meet someone for the first time:
Hello. It’s nice to meet you at last.

7. (it’s been) nice meeting/talking to you used when you say goodbye to someone you have met for the first time

8. NOT NICE British English used in a humorous or angry way when you really think that something or someone is not at all good or pleasant:
That’s a nice way to treat a friend, I must say!
Well, we’re in a nice mess now.

9. nice try used when someone has made a guess or suggestion, or has attempted to do something, to say that it is good, but not quite correct or successful:
‘We could phone Mark to come and pick us up.’ ‘Nice try, Clive, but we haven’t got his number.’

10. nice one! British English used when someone has just said or done something clever, amusing, or helpful:
‘Dad said he’d help pay for it.’ ‘Nice one!’

11. be (as) nice as pie British English if someone is as nice as pie, they are not angry with you when you were expecting them to be

12. nice work if you can get it British English used humorously to say that someone has a very easy or enjoyable job, especially one which you would like to do

13. DETAIL formal involving a very small difference or detail:
a nice point of law

14. RESPECTABLE old-fashioned having high standards of moral and social behaviour:
What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?

15. nice ... shame about the ... British English used when saying that part of something is good or well done, but a more important part is bad or badly done:
Nice video, shame about the song.
—niceness noun [uncountable]:
The first thing you noticed about him was his niceness.
⇒ no more Mr Nice Guy! at guy(5)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

nice
adj.
VERBS be, feel, look, seem, smell, sound, taste I felt nice and cosy. That bread smells nice. His mother sounded very nice on the phone.
make sth I tidied the room to make it nice for the others when they came home.
ADV. awfully, exceptionally, extremely, incredibly, jolly, really, terribly, very an awfully nice man
perfectly, thoroughly I'm sure she's perfectly nice really.
not particularly It had not been a particularly nice experience.
pretty, quite, rather | enough Some of the boys were nice enough, but she didn't want to go out with them.
PREP. about He was incredibly nice about it, though I am sure it caused him a lot of trouble.
for It's nice for Mum to get out more.
to Can't you be nice to each other for once?
PHRASES nice little It's a nice little place you've got here.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

nice
adjective
BAD: There is a nice and quiet room where I do my work.
GOOD: There is a nice quiet room where I do my work.
GOOD: The room where I do my work is nice and quiet.

Usage Note:
Two-part adjectival phrases with nice such as 'nice and quiet, and 'nice and clean' are always placed after the noun they modify: 'The house is always nice and tidy.' Do not use and after nice when it comes in front of a noun: 'Right now I could do with a nice cold drink.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

friendly behaving towards someone in a way that shows you like them and are ready to talk to them or help them:
a friendly smile
The local people are very friendly.
warm [usually before noun] friendly and caring about other people, in a way that makes people like you and feel comfortable:
He was such a warm caring person and everyone loved him.
We received a very warm welcome.
nice especially spoken friendly and kind:
Chris is a nice guy. I’m sure you’ll get on with him.
He wasn’t very nice to the other children.
amiable /ˈeɪmiəbəl/ formal friendly and easy to like:
Tom was an amiable young man.
welcoming friendly to someone who has just arrived somewhere:
a welcoming smile
The group are very welcoming to new members.
hospitable friendly and eager to make visitors comfortable:
I found Japanese people to be very hospitable.
genial formal behaving in a cheerful and friendly way:
a genial host
She was in a genial mood.
cordial formal friendly and polite but formal:
The two nations have always maintained cordial relations.
approachable friendly and easy to talk to – used especially about people in important positions:
The head teacher is very approachable.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

fun noun [uncountable] especially spoken an experience or activity that is very enjoyable and exciting:
The course was fun.
Have you ever been windsurfing? It’s really good fun.
I just want to relax and have some fun.
It’ll be fun seeing all my old friends again.
Running around a freezing hockey field isn’t my idea of fun.
enjoyment noun [uncountable] the feeling you get when you enjoy doing something:
I get a lot of enjoyment out of working with young children.
pleasure noun [countable] an experience or activity that makes you feel happy and satisfied:
The game was a pleasure to watch.
One of her greatest pleasures was walking in the mountains.
Ted enjoyed the simple pleasures of life: his family, his home, and his garden.
good/great time noun [countable] especially spoken a time when you enjoyed yourself:
The kids all had a great time.
I remember the good times in Japan.
Were the 1960s really such great times?
a blast informal a very enjoyable experience – a very informal use:
The trip was a blast!
entertainment noun [uncountable] things such as performances and films which are intended to be enjoyable:
Three musicians provided the entertainment.
What do you do for entertainment around here?
They hired two dancers for entertainment.
relaxation noun [uncountable] a way of resting and enjoying yourself:
I play the piano for relaxation.
Her work left little time for relaxation.
leisure noun [uncountable] the time when you are not working, when you can enjoy yourself – used especially in compounds:
leisure activities
the leisure industry
People have more leisure time.
recreation noun [uncountable and countable] formal activities that you do to enjoy yourself:
recreation facilities
The park is not just a place for recreation.
nice especially spoken pleasant or enjoyable:
Did you have a nice day?
It was nice to be back home again.
lovely especially British English informal very nice:
We had a lovely time at the beach.
The hotel was lovely.
enjoyable giving you pleasure:
We had a very enjoyable evening.
wonderful very enjoyable:
It was a wonderful concert.
The food was wonderful.
great (also brilliant British English) informal very enjoyable:
‘How was the party?’ ‘It was great!’
We all had a brilliant time.
charming used about something that seems pleasant and has a lot of qualities that make you like it:
a charming little village in the Italian countryside
I thought the restaurant was rather charming.
delightful formal very pleasant or enjoyable:
There are many delightful walks in the area.
a delightful evening
pleasurable formal a pleasurable experience or feeling is one that you enjoy:
Shopping in the old city can be a pleasurable experience.
a pleasurable feeling of relief

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

good of a high standard or quality:
I’ve just read a really good book.
My French is not very good.
nice pleasant and enjoyable. Nice is very common in spoken English. In written English, it is better to use other words:
I hope you have a nice vacation.
It will be nice to see you again.
good quality/high quality well made from good materials:
If you buy good quality shoes, they last much longer.
high-quality wallpapers
fine used for describing things of a very high quality, or weather with no rain and clear skies:
The restaurant serves the finest food in Florence.
If it’s fine tomorrow, we’ll go for a walk.
neat American English spoken good – used when you like something:
That’s a neat idea.
They sell some really neat stuff.
attractive an attractive offer, course of action etc seems good and makes you want to accept it or do it:
Going home for dinner was a more attractive proposition than completing his run.
Buying direct from the manufacturer seems the most attractive option.
impressive something that is impressive is good in a way that makes people admire it:
an impressive achievement
It was a very impressive performance.
excellent/superb extremely good:
Your English is excellent.
She’s a superb teacher.
great/wonderful/terrific/fantastic especially spoken extremely good:
It’s a great film.
Her cooking is wonderful.
That’s a terrific idea!
brilliant British English especially spoken extremely good:
The play was absolutely brilliant.
amazing/incredible extremely good, in a surprising and exciting way:
New York is an amazing place.
The skating has been incredible in this competition.
beautiful/glorious used about weather that is very pleasant and sunny:
It’s a beautiful day.
The weather was just glorious.
outstanding/first-class/top-quality much better than other places, people etc:
an outstanding performance
The service is always first-class.
exceptional unusually good:
Occasionally, we get a student with exceptional talent.
a woman of exceptional beauty
awesome especially American English informal very good:
The movie was awesome.
be out of this world spoken to be extremely good:
Their chocolate cake is just out of this world!

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

kind someone who is kind tries to help people and make them happy or comfortable, and shows that they care about them:
They were very kind to us and let us stay in their house as long as we liked.
a kind old lady
a kind thing to say
nice especially spoken friendly and kind. Nice is very common in everyday spoken English and is often used instead of kind:
Everyone has been so nice to me.
It’s nice of you to invite me here.
He seems such a nice man.
generous kind because you give people money, presents etc:
‘I’ll pay for the meal.’ ‘That’s very generous of you.’
a generous gift
considerate thinking about other people’s feelings, and careful not to do anything that will upset them:
Our neighbours are very considerate and always keep their TV turned down.
a considerate driver
He’s always very polite and considerate to his guests.
thoughtful thinking of things you can do to make other people happy or feel good – used especially when someone does something such as giving someone a present or helping someone:
It was thoughtful of you to send him a card.
Some thoughtful person had taken her bag to the lost property office.
caring kind and wanting to help and look after people:
She’s lucky to have such a loving and caring husband.
The British are well-known for their caring attitude toward animals.
sympathetic saying kind things to someone who has problems and behaving in a way that shows you care about them:
My boss was very sympathetic and said I should take some time off work.
She gave him a sympathetic smile.
good kind and showing that you want to help – used especially in the following phrases:
It was good of you to come and see me.
She’s always been very good to us.
sweet informal very kind – used especially when you like someone very much, or you are very pleased because of something they have done:
I was given the flowers by a sweet little old lady who lived next door.
It’s sweet of you to ask.
a sweet thing to say
kind-hearted/warm-hearted especially written having a kind and friendly character, which makes other people like you:
He was a wonderful father, kind-hearted and always laughing.
The town is full of warm-hearted, helpful people.
benevolent formal kind and wanting to help people – often used about someone who is important or who people respect:
a benevolent ruler
They believe in the existence of a benevolent God who will save mankind.
He listened politely, like some benevolent uncle.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

nice especially spoken friendly, kind, or polite. In written and formal English, it is better to use a more specific and interesting adjective than nice:
I like Clare – she’s really nice.
It was nice of them to offer to help.
pleasant friendly, polite, and easy to talk to – used especially about someone that you do not know very well:
I only met her once or twice but she seemed pleasant.
sweet very kind and gentle:
Kylie’s a very caring, sweet person.
It was sweet of you to send me a card.
charming behaving in a polite and friendly way, which makes people like you and want to do things for you:
The salesman was very charming.
a charming hostess
engaging interesting or amusing in a way that makes people like you – a rather formal word:
She can be very engaging.
an engaging smile
likeable easy to like and seeming nice and friendly:
Bobby was a likeable kid with an angelic face.
good-natured having a nice kind character and not getting angry easily:
Everyone likes Mike because he’s always so good-natured.
great informal used about someone who you like and admire a lot:
He’s a great guy!
Sue’s boyfriend is really great.
lovely especially British English informal very nice, kind, and friendly:
All the people I met on the course were lovely.
a lovely man
fun informal if something is fun, you enjoy it:
The holiday was great fun.
enjoyable giving you pleasure:
We had a very enjoyable evening.
wonderful very enjoyable:
It was a wonderful concert.
The food was wonderful.
delightful formal very pleasant or enjoyable:
There are many delightful walks in the area.
a delightful evening
pleasurable formal a pleasurable experience or feeling is one that you enjoy:
Shopping in the old city can be a pleasurable experience.
a pleasurable feeling of relief

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

nice especially spoken pleasant or enjoyable:
Did you have a nice day?
It was nice to be back home again.
lovely especially British English informal very nice:
We had a lovely time at the beach.
The hotel was lovely.
fun informal if something is fun, you enjoy it:
The holiday was great fun.
enjoyable giving you pleasure:
We had a very enjoyable evening.
wonderful very enjoyable:
It was a wonderful concert.
The food was wonderful.
great (also brilliant British English) informal very enjoyable:
‘How was the party?’ ‘It was great!’
We all had a brilliant time.
charming used about something that seems pleasant and has a lot of qualities that make you like it:
a charming little village in the Italian countryside
I thought the restaurant was rather charming.
delightful formal very pleasant or enjoyable:
There are many delightful walks in the area.
a delightful evening
pleasurable formal a pleasurable experience or feeling is one that you enjoy:
Shopping in the old city can be a pleasurable experience.
a pleasurable feeling of relief

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

sunny if the weather is sunny, the sun is shining:
When we arrived in Hong Kong, it was warm and sunny.
a lovely sunny afternoon
fine especially British English not raining, and with no clouds or only a few clouds in the sky:
a period of fine weather
Next week will be fine but a little cooler.
nice (also lovely especially British English) spoken pleasantly warm and sunny:
It’s a lovely day – why don’t we go for a walk?
If it’s nice, we’ll go to the beach.
bright if the weather is bright, the sun is shining and there is plenty of light:
a bright sunny morning
It was bright earlier on in the day.
beautiful/glorious used when the weather is very good and there is a lot of sunshine:
a glorious autumn day
The weather has been beautiful all week.
clear with no clouds or mist:
It was a clear June morning.
a clear blue sky
cloudless especially literary with no clouds:
The sun shone from a cloudless sky.
It was a beautiful cloudless morning.
dry with no rain:
a period of dry weather
Tomorrow will be mostly dry.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

type/kind/sort one member of a group of people or things that have similar features or qualities. Type is the usual word to use in scientific or technical contexts. In everyday English, people usually use kind or sort:
What type of fish is this?
There are two main personality types.
kind a type of person or thing. Kind is less formal than type, and is used especially in everyday English:
What kind of food do you like?
There were all kinds of people there.
The study is the first of its kind in Ireland.
sort especially British English a type of person or thing. Sort is less formal than type, and is used especially in everyday British English:
What sort of person is she?
I like all sorts of music.
form one type of something from all the ones that are possible – used especially when things have different physical characteristics, or in certain fixed phrases:
There are many forms of heart disease.
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer.
The first primitive life forms consumed various materials, including hydrogen sulfide, and released oxygen.
In those days, horses were the commonest form of transport.
We need to use alternative forms of energy.
a popular form of entertainment
variety a type that is slightly different from others in the same group:
The French make many varieties of cheese.
This is a new variety of apple.
species a type of plant or animal, which can breed together to produce plants or animals of the same type:
These forests contain many species of trees.
The giant panda is an endangered species.
of a ... nature formal used when talking about a particular type of thing:
Many people find it embarrassing to discuss problems of a sexual nature.
Minor incidents of this nature normally occur about once a month.
category a group of people or things that are all of the same type – used when there is a clear system for deciding which group something belongs to:
The three major categories of rock are: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.
She won the best actress category at the Oscars.
brand used when talking about the particular way that someone does something or thinks about something, when this is very different from that of other people:
She has her own special brand of humour.
He has called for a more positive brand of politics.
genre formal a type of art, music, literature etc. that has a particular style or feature:
He has written novels in several genres, most notably science fiction.
nice especially spoken friendly and kind. Nice is very common in everyday spoken English and is often used instead of kind:
Everyone has been so nice to me.
It’s nice of you to invite me here.
He seems such a nice man.
generous kind because you give people money, presents etc:
‘I’ll pay for the meal.’ ‘That’s very generous of you.’
a generous gift
considerate thinking about other people’s feelings, and careful not to do anything that will upset them:
Our neighbours are very considerate and always keep their TV turned down.
a considerate driver
He’s always very polite and considerate to his guests.
thoughtful thinking of things you can do to make other people happy or feel good – used especially when someone does something such as giving someone a present or helping someone:
It was thoughtful of you to send him a card.
Some thoughtful person had taken her bag to the lost property office.
caring kind and wanting to help and look after people:
She’s lucky to have such a loving and caring husband.
The British are well-known for their caring attitude toward animals.
sympathetic saying kind things to someone who has problems and behaving in a way that shows you care about them:
My boss was very sympathetic and said I should take some time off work.
She gave him a sympathetic smile.
good kind and showing that you want to help – used especially in the following phrases:
It was good of you to come and see me.
She’s always been very good to us.
sweet informal very kind – used especially when you like someone very much, or you are very pleased because of something they have done:
I was given the flowers by a sweet little old lady who lived next door.
It’s sweet of you to ask.
a sweet thing to say
kind-hearted/warm-hearted especially written having a kind and friendly character, which makes other people like you:
He was a wonderful father, kind-hearted and always laughing.
The town is full of warm-hearted, helpful people.
benevolent formal kind and wanting to help people – often used about someone who is important or who people respect:
a benevolent ruler
They believe in the existence of a benevolent God who will save mankind.
He listened politely, like some benevolent uncle.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲