We all need words and phrases for saying that things are good or great – that we find them nice or very nice. This post aims to give you more ways to say that you like, or really like, something.
Starting with a very frequent adjective; lovely is used a lot in UK English for generally good things and experiences: That’s a lovely dress you’re wearing!/It was so lovely to see you again!
Moving on to words that express stronger approval; two very common adjectives meaning ‘very surprising’ are also used slightly informally to mean ‘extremely good’. Incredible and amazing are both used to praise things, sometimes describing a thing that is so good, you cannot quite believe it: It was an amazing performance – I’ve never seen anything like it./He was an incredible artist – almost certainly a genius. Other strong adjectives that are commonly used to mean ‘extremely good’ are wonderful, (UK) marvellous/(US) marvelous and fabulous: He’s a wonderful cook./It’s a marvellous story./The food was fabulous. The word excellent is also used a lot, often describing something that is of extremely good quality: The service was excellent./I thought the acting was excellent. Similarly, superb is used to describe something of the highest quality: a superb album/It was a superb goal.
Of course, there are more informal adjectives too that are used to ‘great’. ‘Fantastic’ is one and ‘brilliant’ (in UK English) is another: The view was just fantastic./We were lucky – the weather was brilliant. Two informal, approving adjectives that are used especially by younger people are cool and awesome: “It’s a really cool place to hang out.” “She has an awesome voice.”
Other adjectives describe things which are very unusual because they are so good, for example exceptional: The care I received from the hospital staff was exceptional – it couldn’t have been better. Outstanding also refers to something that is very much better than others of the same type: All in all, it was an outstanding performance by Messi. The adjectives remarkable and extraordinary, meanwhile, describe things that are extremely good, having a quality that is unique, or at least, very special: her extraordinary beauty/Even as a young girl, she had a remarkable singing voice.
Of course, we also use idioms to say that things are very good. Something that is out of this world is extremely good:The food there is out of this world. If you say that something takes some beating, you mean it is so good that it is hard to improve on: That hotel would take some beating. Finally, someone or something that leaves someone or something standing is very much better than others of the same type: His voice is excellent – it leaves the others standing.
Have a fantastic week!