Meaning & use
generous
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Meanings
adjectivecomparableapproving
Happy to give money, time or help freely, often more than is expected.
Grammar: Often followed by with or to: generous with her time; generous to a fault.
Patterns
- generous with something
- generous to someone
- it is generous of someone to do something
He was generous with his time and always helped new staff.
It was generous of her to share the prize money.
The couple are generous to local charities.
adjectivebefore a noun
Larger in amount or size than is normal or needed.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: a generous portion, a generous helping.
Patterns
- a generous amount of something
- a generous helping
The restaurant serves generous portions at a fair price.
She added a generous splash of olive oil.
The flat has a generous amount of storage.
adjectivecomparableapproving
Kind and understanding toward others, not quick to judge or blame.
Grammar: Describes attitude: a generous spirit; generous in his judgments.
Patterns
- generous in something
- a generous reading of something
She gave a generous reading of her rival's work.
He was generous in defeat and congratulated the winner.
A generous view of the facts would clear him.
Word forms
| comparative | more generous |
|---|---|
| superlative | most generous |
Common combinations
- a generous donation
- A generous donation paid for the new library.
- generous portion
- The chef serves a generous portion of pasta.
- generous offer
- They made a generous offer for the house.
- generous to a fault
- He is generous to a fault and gives away his lunch.
- generous with
- The teacher was generous with praise.
Synonyms and how they differ
- charitable
- Charitable suggests giving to people in need, while generous can apply to any gift of time or money.
- lavish
- Lavish implies giving or spending in great and sometimes excessive amounts.
- big-hearted
- Big-hearted is warmer and more informal, focusing on kindness rather than the amount given.
- ample
- Ample describes quantity that is more than enough but says nothing about a giving person.
Opposites
Word family
- generosity noun
- the quality of giving freely
- generously adverb
- in a giving or plentiful way
- ungenerous adjective
- not willing to give or to be kind
Commonly confused: generous or generic?
generous vs generic
Generic means general or not specific to a brand, and is unrelated to giving.
Practice
Our neighbor is very ___ with her time and often drives elderly people to appointments.
Choose one answer.
Generous with her time means freely giving it. Genuine means real and gentle means soft, and neither takes with in this sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “generous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.