B2adjective2K

Colorful

UK /["/ˈkʌləfl/"]/US /["/ˈkʌlərfl/"]/

Definition

full of bright colors or having a lot of different colors

In simple words: Having many bright colors

Examples

  • The male birds are more colorful than the females,
  • a **colorful history/past/career**
  • one of the book's most colorful characters

Usage notes

Use 'colorful' to describe something that has many colors, like a painting or a garden. It's suitable in most situations, but avoid it in highly formal contexts.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of a 'colorful' rainbow filled with bright shades that stand out.

Collocations

  • colorful display
  • colorful personality
  • colorful painting

Synonyms

  • vivid
  • bright
  • vibrant
  • multicolored
  • striking

Antonyms

  • dull
  • drab
  • colorless

Common mistakes

  • Using 'colorful' to mean something is interesting or exciting
  • Confusing 'colorful' with 'colorless' when describing dull items