B1adjective1K

Generous

UK /["/ˈdʒenərəs/"]/US /["/ˈdʒenərəs/"]/

Definition

giving or willing to give freely; given freely

In simple words: Someone who gives a lot, especially money or help.

Examples

  • She was very generous with her time, volunteering every weekend.
  • His generous nature made him well-liked among his peers.
  • The restaurant offered a generous portion of pasta for the price.
  • They donated a generous sum to the local charity.
  • Her generous compliments always boosted my confidence.

Usage notes

Use 'generous' to describe a person who is kind and shares freely. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in sarcastic situations.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Sounds like 'generate us' — think of generating kindness for everyone.

Collocations

  • appear
  • be
  • feel
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • of
  • to
  • with
  • appear
  • be
  • feel
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • of
  • to
  • with
  • appear
  • be
  • feel
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • of
  • to
  • with

Synonyms

  • lavish

Antonyms

  • stingy
  • mean
  • greedy

Common mistakes

  • Often confused with 'generous' and 'generosity', forgetting the different forms.
  • Sometimes used incorrectly with uncountable nouns, e.g., 'a generous of help' instead of 'a generous amount of help'.