Cool MateBe glad vs Delighted
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Be glad
Top 2,000 (common)
Delighted
Top 3,000 (common)B2adjective
Most common: Be glad
| Be glad | Delighted | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //biː ɡlæd//🇺🇸 //bi ɡlæd// | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈlaɪtɪd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈlaɪtɪd/"]/ |
| Meaning | Feel happy or pleased. | Very happy or pleased. |
| Example | I am glad to hear that you passed the exam. | She was delighted to receive the news of her promotion. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be glad to hear, be glad for, be glad about, be glad to see, be glad that | appear, be, feel, highly, only too, really, at, by, with |
| Antonyms | - | displeased, unhappy, dissatisfied |
| Common mistakes | Saying 'happy glad' instead of just 'glad'., Confusing with 'be happy'. 'Glad' is often more specific. | Using 'delighted' in a sarcastic context., Confusing 'delighted' with 'excited'., Incorrect preposition use: saying 'delighted for' instead of 'delighted with' or 'about'. |
| Usage notes | Used to express happiness about something. It's appropriate in most situations, both formal and informal. | Use 'delighted' to express genuine happiness, often in positive situations. It's more formal than 'happy', so avoid it in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Be glad vs Delighted
What's the difference between Be glad and Delighted?
Be glad: Feel happy or pleased. Delighted: Very happy or pleased.
Which is more common: Be glad and Delighted?
Be glad is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Be glad: I am glad to hear that you passed the exam. Delighted: She was delighted to receive the news of her promotion.
Can I use Be glad and Delighted interchangeably?
Not always. Be glad and Delighted are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.