lovely

lovely

love·ly [lovely lovelies] adjective, noun   [ˈlʌvli]    [ˈlʌvli] 

adjective (love·lier, love·li·est) You can also use more lovely and most lovely. (especially BrE)
1. beautiful; attractive
• lovely countryside/eyes/flowers
• She looked particularly lovely that night.

• He has a lovely voice.

2. (informal) very enjoyable and pleasant; wonderful
• ‘Can I get you anything?’ ‘A cup of tea would be lovely.’
• What a lovely surprise!
• How lovely to see you!
• Isn't it a lovely day?
• We've had a lovely time.
• It's a lovely old farm.
• It's been lovely having you here.

• (ironic) You've got yourself into a lovely mess, haven't you?

3. (informal) (of a person) very kind, generous and friendly
• Her mother was a lovely woman.  Very lovely is not very common and is only used about the physical appearance of a person or thing.  
Word Origin:
Old English luflic (see love, -ly).  
Thesaurus:
lovely adj.
1. (especially BrE)
• We walked through lovely countryside.
beautiful • • attractive • • pretty • • scenic • • picturesque • • charming • • exquisite •
Opp: horrible
a/an lovely/beautiful/attractive/pretty/picturesque/charming place/town/village
a/an lovely/beautiful/attractive/scenic/picturesque/charming/exquisite setting/view
lovely/beautiful/attractive/picturesque countryside/scenery/surroundings
Lovely or beautiful? Something that is lovely always has a warm quality that appeals not only to the eyes but also to the heart; beautiful things often have this quality, but they do not have to:
• The designs were pure, austere and coldly beautiful.
 ¤ The designs were pure, austere and coldly lovely.
2. (especially BrE)
• She was looking lovely.
beautiful • • pretty • • attractive • • good-looking • • striking • |informal gorgeous • • stunning • |especially AmE, informal cute •
Opp: horrible, Opp: ugly
a/an lovely/beautiful/pretty/attractive/good-looking/striking/gorgeous/stunning/cute girl/woman
a/an lovely/beautiful/pretty/attractive/good-looking/striking/cute face
a/an lovely/beautiful/attractive/gorgeous/cute body
3. (especially BrE, especially spoken)
• We had a lovely day.
wonderful • • delightful • • enjoyable • |BrE, especially spoken marvellous • |AmE, especially spoken marvelous • |literary delicious •
Opp: horrible
a lovely/wonderful/delightful/marvellous/delicious feeling/sensation
(a) lovely/wonderful/delightful/marvellous experience/time/place/scenery/weather
It's lovely/wonderful/marvellous to be/feel/find/know/have/see…
Lovely, wonderful or delightful? Lovely is the most frequent in British, spoken English. In American English wonderful is the most frequent, both written and spoken. Delightful is used mostly to talk about times, events and places.
4. (especially BrE, especially spoken)
• Her mother's a lovely woman.
wonderful • • charming • • pleasant • • friendly • • kind • • lovable • • charismatic • • engaging • |especially BrE likeable • |especially AmE likable • |especially spoken nice • • sweet •
Opp: horrible
a lovely/wonderful/charming/pleasant/friendly/kind/lovable/charismatic/engaging/likeable/nice/sweet man
a lovely/wonderful/charming/pleasant/friendly/kind/lovable/engaging/likeable/nice/sweet person
a lovely/wonderful/charming/pleasant/friendly/kind/engaging/kind/nice/sweet woman  
Synonyms:
beautiful
pretty • handsome • attractive • lovely • good-looking • gorgeous
These words all describe people who are pleasant to look at.
beautiful • (especially of a woman or girl) very pleasant to look at: ▪ She looked stunningly beautiful that night.
pretty • (especially of a girl or woman) pleasant to look at: ▪ She's got a very pretty face.
Pretty is used most often to talk about girls. When it is used to talk about a woman, it usually suggests that she is like a girl, with small, delicate features.
handsome • (of a man) pleasant to look at; (of a woman) pleasant to look at, with large strong features rather than small delicate ones: ▪ He was described as ‘ ▪ tall, dark and handsome ▪ ’.
attractive • (of a person) pleasant to look at, especially in a sexual way: ▪ She's a very attractive woman.
lovely • (of a person) beautiful; very attractive: ▪ She looked particularly lovely that night.
When you describe sb as lovely, you are usually showing that you also have a strong feeling of affection for them.
good-looking • (of a person) pleasant to look at, often in a sexual way: ▪ She arrived with a very good-looking man.
gorgeous • (informal) (of a person) extremely attractive, especially in a sexual way: ▪ You look gorgeous!
attractive or good-looking?
If you describe sb as attractive you often also mean that they have a pleasant personality as well as being pleasant to look at; good-looking just describes sb's physical appearance.
a(n) beautiful/pretty/handsome/attractive/lovely/good-looking/gorgeous girl/woman
a(n) beautiful/handsome/attractive/good-looking/gorgeous boy/man
a(n) beautiful/pretty/handsome/attractive/lovely/good-looking face  
Synonyms:
wonderful
lovely • delightful
These words all describe an experience, feeling or sight that gives you great pleasure.
wonderful • that you enjoy very much; that gives you great pleasure; extremely good: ▪ We had a wonderful time last night. ◊ ▪ The weather was absolutely wonderful.
lovely • (rather informal, especially BrE) that you enjoy very much; that gives you great pleasure; very attractive: ▪ What a lovely day! ▪ (= the weather is very good) ◊ ▪ It's been lovely having you here.
delightful • that gives you great pleasure; very attractive: ▪ a delightful little fishing village
wonderful, lovely or delightful?
All these words can describe times, events, places, sights, feelings and the weather. Wonderful can also describe a chance or ability. Lovely is the most frequent in spoken British English, but in North American English wonderful is the most frequent, both spoken and written. Delightful is used especially to talk about times, events and places.
wonderful/lovely/delightful weather/views/scenery
It's wonderful/lovely to be/feel/find/have/know/see…
It would be wonderful/lovely/delightful if…
It's wonderful/lovely that…
That sounds wonderful/lovely/delightful.
really/quite/absolutely wonderful/lovely/delightful 
Example Bank:
• She looked really lovely in the blue dress.
• She's got an absolutely lovely face.
• The cool water felt lovely after being in the hot sun.
• Your idea of a day on the beach sounds lovely.
• a hauntingly lovely melody
• It was a lovely evening— calm and still.
• It's a lovely old farmhouse.
• It's been lovely having you here.
• It's lovely and warm in here.
• We had a lovely day.
• We travelled through some lovely countryside.
• You've got lovely eyes.
• You've got yourself into a lovely mess, haven't you?
• a lovely cool drink

Idiom: lovely and warm/cold/quiet