If you say that something is nice, you mean that you find it attractive, pleasant, or enjoyable.
I think silk ties can be quite nice.
It's nice to be here together again.
We had a nice meal with a bottle of champagne.
Synonyms: pleasant, delightful, agreeable, good More Synonyms of nice
nicelyadverb [ADVERB -ed/adjective, oft ADVERB after verb]
He's just written a book, nicely illustrated and not too technical.
The horse jumps nicely.
Synonyms: neatly, finely, trimly, tidily More Synonyms of nice
Synonyms: respectably, virtuously, genteelly, likably More Synonyms of nice
Synonyms: pleasantly, well, delightfully, attractively More Synonyms of nice
2. adjective
If you say that it is nice of someone to say or do something, you are saying that they are being kind and thoughtful. This is often used as a way of thanking someone.
It's awfully nice of you to come all this way to see me. [+ of]
'How are your boys?'—'How nice of you to ask.' [+ of]
This has been so nice, so terribly kind of you.
Synonyms: kind, helpful, obliging, considerate More Synonyms of nice
3. adjective
If you say that someone is nice, you mean that you like them because they are friendly and pleasant.
I've met your father and he's rather nice.
He was a nice fellow, very quiet and courteous.
Synonyms: likable or likeable, friendly, engaging, charming More Synonyms of nice
nicenessuncountable noun
Mr Pearce was rather bowled over by his niceness, his concern and his ordinariness.
Synonyms: kindness, charm, goodness, decency More Synonyms of nice
Synonyms: precision, care, discrimination, accuracy More Synonyms of nice
Synonyms: neatness, tidiness, fineness, daintiness More Synonyms of nice
Synonyms: respectability, courtesy, refinement, good manners More Synonyms of nice
4. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are niceto people, you are friendly, pleasant, or polite towards them.
She met Mr and Mrs Ricciardi, who were very nice to her. [+ to]
nicelyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
He treated you very nicely and acted like a decent guy.
Synonyms: neatly, finely, trimly, tidily More Synonyms of nice
Synonyms: respectably, virtuously, genteelly, likably More Synonyms of nice
Synonyms: kindly, politely, thoughtfully, amiably More Synonyms of nice
5. adjective
When the weather is nice, it is warm and pleasant.
He nodded to us and said, 'Nice weather we're having.'
6. adjective [ADJand adv after v]
You can use nice to emphasize a particular quality that you like.
[emphasis]
Once they are a nice dark golden brown, turn them over.
People have got used to nice glossy magazines.
Add the oats to thicken the mixture and stir until it is nice and creamy.
I'll explain it nice and simply so you can understand.
Synonyms: precise, fine, careful, strict More Synonyms of nice
7. adjective
A nice point or distinction is very clear, precise, and based on good reasoning.
[formal]
Those are nice academic arguments, but what about the immediate future?
nicelyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
I think this puts the problem very nicely.
Synonyms: neatly, finely, trimly, tidily More Synonyms of nice
Synonyms: respectably, virtuously, genteelly, likably More Synonyms of nice
Synonyms: precisely, exactly, accurately, exactingly More Synonyms of nice
8. adjective
You can use nice when you are greeting people. For example, you can say 'Nice to meet you', 'Nice to have met you', or 'Nice to see you'.
[formulae]
Good morning. Nice to meet you and thanks for being with us this weekend. [+ to-infinitive]
'It's so nice to see you,' said Charles. [+ to-infinitive]
9.
See nice one
10. See also nicely
More Synonyms of nice
nice in British English
(naɪs)
adjective
1.
pleasant or commendable
a nice day
2.
kind or friendly
a nice gesture of help
3.
good or satisfactory
they made a nice job of it
4.
subtle, delicate, or discriminating
a nice point in the argument
5.
precise; skilful
a nice fit
6. rare
fastidious; respectable
he was not too nice about his methods
7. obsolete
a.
foolish or ignorant
b.
delicate
c.
shy; modest
d.
wanton
8. nice and
Derived forms
nicely (ˈnicely)
adverb
niceness (ˈniceness)
noun
nicish (ˈnicish) or niceish (ˈniceish)
adjective
Word origin
C13 (originally: foolish): from Old French nice simple, silly, from Latin nescius ignorant, from nescīre to be ignorant; see nescience
Nice in British English
(French nis)
noun
a city in SE France, on the Mediterranean: a leading resort of the French Riviera; founded by Phocaeans from Marseille in about the 3rd century bc. Pop: 348 721 (2007)
NICE in British English
(naɪs)
noun acronym for
1.
(in England and Wales) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: a body that provides guidance on best practice in medicine and treatments in the NHS
2.
non-inflationary consistent expansion: a period of steady economic growth and low inflation
Nice in American English
(nis)
seaport & resort in SE France: pop. 342,000
nice in American English
(naɪs)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈnicer or ˈnicest
1.
difficult to please; fastidious; refined
2.
delicate; precise; discriminative; subtle
a nice distinction
3.
calling for great care, accuracy, tact, etc., as in handling or discrimination
a nice problem
4.
a.
able to make fine or delicate distinctions; delicately skillful; finely discriminating
b.
minutely accurate, as an instrument
5.
having high standards of conduct; scrupulous
6. a generalized term of approval meaning variously:
a.
agreeable; pleasant; delightful
b.
attractive; pretty
c.
courteous and considerate
d.
conforming to approved social standards; respectable
e.
in good taste
f.
good; excellent
7. Obsolete
a.
ignorant; foolish
b.
wanton
c.
coy; shy
adverbWord forms: ˈnicer or ˈnicest
8.
well, pleasingly, attractively, etc.
variously regarded as substandard, dialectal, or informal
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈdainty
Idioms:
make nice
nice and
Derived forms
nicely (ˈnicely)
adverb
niceness (ˈniceness)
noun
Word origin
ME, strange, lazy, foolish < OFr nice, nisce, stupid, foolish < L nescius, ignorant, not knowing < nescire, to be ignorant < ne-, not (see no1) + scire, to know: see science
More idioms containing
nice
nice as pie
Examples of 'nice' in a sentence
nice
Sometimes people have said how nice to see that politicians are human really.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You spend time making something look nice.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
That was the nicest possible way of putting it.
The Sun (2016)
All she wanted for me was to meet a nice man.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But he sent me a really nice email saying sorry and it takes a proper person to apologise.
The Sun (2016)
It would be fine if you were kind of prepared for it and you could make yourself look nice.
The Sun (2017)
So it's a kind of nice collaboration.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
It would be nice to think that this is an exclusively American phenomenon.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
People would say'Did you have a nice time?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is definitely rather nice.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We chatted about rubbish and it was kind of nice to do that.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
And it looks nice when you make gestures.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She had a rather nice voice and was also known for whistling.
Max Arthur Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 19011910 in the words of the Men & Women Who WereThere (2006)
Why not see nice people making wonderful things?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This is a nice way of saying you may want to throw out the pulpit.
Christianity Today (2000)
Most people out for dinner just want something nice to drink.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This would be a nice way to finish it off.
The Sun (2009)
Who can be nice all the time?
The Sun (2015)
People always are nice when they meet you.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
At first they were nice and friendly.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This sounds kind of nice at first.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is rather nice to know you are not quite so necessary any more.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It would be nice to see her win.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This was a rather specially nice one.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Just text saying it was nice to see him and how about meeting for a coffee.
The Sun (2014)
It seemed like something nice for me to act.
The Sun (2011)
Make big or little items and leave them in any place that could do with looking a little nicer.