B1adjective2K

Pale

UK /["/peɪl/"]/US /["/peɪl/"]/

Definition

having skin that is very light in colour; having skin that has less colour than usual because of illness, a strong emotion, etc.

In simple words: Having a light color or little color.

Examples

  • She felt pale after staying up all night with worry.
  • The walls were painted a pale blue that made the room feel larger.
  • His skin looked pale due to the lack of sunlight in winter.
  • The flowers in the garden are a pale pink, which is very soothing.
  • Despite her pale complexion, she wore bright red lipstick confidently.
  • In contrast, the sunset was a pale orange that faded quickly.
  • He tried to evade the issue, but his excuses fell pale compared to the truth.
  • They decided to use pale colors for the spring collection to give a fresh look.

Usage notes

Use 'pale' to describe colors, especially in contrast to brighter ones. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but not often used for people unless discussing health.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of a pale ghost – pale means light in color!

Collocations

  • appear
  • be
  • look
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • pale and drawn

Synonyms

  • light
  • washed-out
  • dim
  • colorless
  • faded

Antonyms

  • dark
  • vibrant
  • bright

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'pail', which is a container.
  • Using 'pale' to describe something that is simply light in weight, not color.
  • Mixing up with 'pallid' which means unhealthy pale.