generous
Willing to give money, help, kindness, etc., especially more than is usual or expected
سخاوتمندانه، بخشنده
Reza behaved in a generous way.
رضا به طور سخاوت مندانه ای رفتار کرد.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
generous
adjective
always ready to give people things or to spend money:
a generous gift
It was generous of your parents to pay for the meal.
opposite mean
>> generously adverb:
Please give generously.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
generous
gen‧e‧rous W3 /ˈdʒenərəs/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: noun: ↑generosity; adverb: ↑generously; adjective: ↑generous]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: généreux, from Latin generosus 'born into a high rank', from genus; ⇨ ↑genus]
1. someone who is generous is willing to give money, spend time etc, in order to help people or give them pleasure OPP mean
generous to
She’s always very generous to the kids.
generous with
Jim is very generous with his time.
it/that is generous (of somebody)
It was generous of them to ask Anna along.
generous offer/support/donation etc
my employer’s generous offer to pay the bill
2. larger or more than the usual size or amount OPP measly:
a generous glass of wine
generous amount/helping/measure etc
a generous helping of pasta
He had a well-shaped generous mouth.
3. sympathetic in the way you deal with people, and tending to see the good qualities in someone or something OPP mean:
She was generous enough to overlook my little mistake.
—generously adverb:
Please give generously to the refugee fund.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ kind someone who is kind tries to help people and make them happy or comfortable, and shows that they care about them: They were very kind to us and let us stay in their house as long as we liked. | a kind old lady | a kind thing to say
▪ nice especially spoken friendly and kind. Nice is very common in everyday spoken English and is often used instead of kind: Everyone has been so nice to me. | It’s nice of you to invite me here. | He seems such a nice man.
▪ generous kind because you give people money, presents etc: ‘I’ll pay for the meal.’ ‘That’s very generous of you.’ | a generous gift
▪ considerate thinking about other people’s feelings, and careful not to do anything that will upset them: Our neighbours are very considerate and always keep their TV turned down. | a considerate driver | He’s always very polite and considerate to his guests.
▪ thoughtful thinking of things you can do to make other people happy or feel good – used especially when someone does something such as giving someone a present or helping someone: It was thoughtful of you to send him a card. | Some thoughtful person had taken her bag to the lost property office.
▪ caring kind and wanting to help and look after people: She’s lucky to have such a loving and caring husband. | The British are well-known for their caring attitude toward animals.
▪ sympathetic saying kind things to someone who has problems and behaving in a way that shows you care about them: My boss was very sympathetic and said I should take some time off work. | She gave him a sympathetic smile.
▪ good kind and showing that you want to help – used especially in the following phrases: It was good of you to come and see me. | She’s always been very good to us.
▪ sweet informal very kind – used especially when you like someone very much, or you are very pleased because of something they have done: I was given the flowers by a sweet little old lady who lived next door. | It’s sweet of you to ask. | a sweet thing to say
▪ kind-hearted/warm-hearted especially written having a kind and friendly character, which makes other people like you: He was a wonderful father, kind-hearted and always laughing. | The town is full of warm-hearted, helpful people.
▪ benevolent formal kind and wanting to help people – often used about someone who is important or who people respect: a benevolent ruler | They believe in the existence of a benevolent God who will save mankind. | He listened politely, like some benevolent uncle.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
generous
gen·er·ous [ˈdʒenərəs] [ˈdʒenərəs] adjective (approving)
1. giving or willing to give freely; given freely
• a generous benefactor
• ~ (with sth) to be generous with your time
• to be generous in giving help
• a generous gift/offer
• It was generous of him to offer to pay for us both.
Opp: mean
2. more than is necessary; large
Syn: lavish
• a generous helping of meat
• The car has a generous amount of space.
3. kind in the way you treat people; willing to see what is good about sb/sth
• a generous mind
• He wrote a very generous assessment of my work.
Derived Word: generously
Word Origin:
late 16th cent.: via Old French from Latin generosus ‘noble, magnanimous’, from genus, gener- ‘stock, race’. The original sense was ‘of noble birth’, hence ‘characteristic of noble birth, courageous, magnanimous, not mean’ (a sense already present in Latin).
Thesaurus:
generous [generous generously] adj.
1.
• a kind and generous man
• a very generous gift
written, sometimes disapproving liberal • • free with sth •
Opp: mean
be generous/liberal/free with sth
a generous/liberal amount of sth
Generous or liberal? People can be generous with their money, time or help. If they are generous with their money, you can just say that they are generous (without stating ‘with their money’). People can be liberal with their money, cash, criticism or advice.
2.
• He wrote a very generous assessment of my work.
kind • • considerate • • thoughtful • |especially spoken nice • • good • • sweet • |formal benevolent • • benign •
Opp: mean
generous/kind/considerate/nice/good/benevolent to sb
be generous/kind/considerate/thoughtful/nice/good/sweet of sb (to do sth)
a generous/kind/considerate/thoughtful/nice/good/sweet/benevolent man/woman/person
Example Bank:
• John's getting very generous with the wine!
• She's quite generous with her praise.
• Thank you for your donation. It was very generous of you.
• The review panel criticized the payments as overly generous.
• They have been extremely generous to the church.
• You have been most generous.
• He took a generous helping of pasta.
• He's a kind and generous man.
• Her generous spirit shone through in everything she did.
• It was very generous of her to offer to pay.
• That's a very generous offer.
• The director thanked the chairman for his generous gift.
• The gallery was named after its most generous benefactor.
• They were very generous with their time.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
generous / ˈdʒen. ə r.əs / / -ɚ- / adjective (CHARACTER)
B1 willing to give money, help, kindness, etc., especially more than is usual or expected:
a very generous man
[ + to infinitive ] It was most generous of you to lend me the money.
She's been very generous with her time.
There's a generous (= kinder than deserved) review of the book in today's newspaper.
generously / -li / adverb
B2
Please give generously to Children in Need.
The jacket is very generously cut.
generous / ˈdʒen. ə r.əs / / -ɚ- / adjective (SIZE)
C1 larger than usual or expected:
a generous slice of cake
a generous pay increase
generously / -li / adverb
B2
Please give generously to Children in Need.
The jacket is very generously cut.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
generous
/dʒenərəs/
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A generous person gives more of something, especially money, than is usual or expected.
German banks are more generous in their lending...
The gift is generous by any standards.
≠ mean
ADJ
• gen‧er‧ous‧ly
We would like to thank all the judges who gave so generously of their time.
ADV: ADV with v
2.
A generous person is friendly, helpful, and willing to see the good qualities in someone or something.
He was always generous in sharing his enormous knowledge...
He was generous enough to congratulate his successor on his decision.
ADJ
• gen‧er‧ous‧ly
The students generously gave them instruction in social responsibility.
ADV: ADV with v
3.
A generous amount of something is much larger than is usual or necessary.
...a generous six weeks of annual holiday...
He should be able to keep his room tidy with the generous amount of storage space.
ADJ
• gen‧er‧ous‧ly
...a generously sized sitting room...
Season the steaks generously with salt and pepper.
ADV: ADV -ed, ADV after v
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
generous
gen·er·ous /ˈʤɛnərəs/ adj [more ~; most ~]
1 : freely giving or sharing money and other valuable things
• a generous benefactor
• The school raised the money through donations from generous alumni.
• He was generous with both his time and his money.
• She has always been very generous toward/to the poor.
2 : providing more than the amount that is needed or normal : abundant or ample
• a generous supply
• This restaurant is known for its generous portions.
• a generous helping of mashed potatoes
• a generous donation
3 : showing kindness and concern for others
• She has a generous heart/spirit.
• He has generous sympathy for unemployed workers.
- gen·er·ous·ly adv
• He generously insisted on paying for dinner.
• She tipped the waiter generously.
• a generously [=lavishly] illustrated book
