Delighted means feeling great pleasure and joy about something. When you're delighted, you're thrilled, almost glowing with satisfaction. A child might feel delighted on her birthday when she unwraps exactly the present she'd been hoping for, or delighted when snow cancels school on the day of a big test.

The word captures that warm, bubbling feeling when something wonderful happens or when you experience something that brings you pure enjoyment. A teacher might say she's delighted with your essay, meaning she's genuinely pleased and impressed. You might be delighted to meet someone you've heard wonderful things about.

Notice that delighted often appears when politeness meets genuine happiness. People say “I'm delighted to help” or “We'd be delighted to have you visit” to show they're not just willing but truly pleased. This makes delighted useful for expressing both sincere joy and gracious enthusiasm. When something delights you, it lifts your spirits and makes you smile from the inside out.