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