English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj

generous

JEHN-ruhs
adj
1
Willing to give more than is expected or required, especially money, time, or help.
"It was generous of them to cover the whole bill."
"He's always generous with his advice to new employees."
2
Larger or more plentiful than necessary; ample.
"The recipe calls for a generous pinch of salt."

How to Use Generous

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGiving freely, or larger/more plentiful than strictly needed.

Common pairings
generous portion generous donation generous with generous offer

Word Forms

more generous comparative, most generous superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “generous” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

It was _____ of them to cover the whole bill.

Etymology

From Latin generosus ("of noble birth"), from genus ("stock, race") — nobility of birth came to imply nobility of character, hence generosity.

Related Words

Rhymes for generous

See all rhymes for generous →

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial